Simgot EW200

So i got the chance to review this little thing. It's shiny, it is made of sturdy metal and it's lightweight.
But does it SOUND good?
First of all, we are talking quite a cheap unit, talking 40 bucks. And it's quite a pleasure seeing that they did take care of both the packaging and the "feeling" of the cable and the casing.
Metal's a good way to go to protect this little thing, and rightfully so.
It isn't some kind of magic titan-killer, but it shows that Simgot really did their homework, making a low-end unit feel actually good.
This means while the price is cheap, the unit itself is a very well managed balance of tonal accuracy and detail.
I could elaborate more, but seriously go out and get one, worst case scenario you just bought the backup IEM that will save you when some other most costly unit bites the dust and need backup.

Now, onto the sound itself.
Tried it with "Simpathy for the Devil", not really expecting much, but i got very pleasantly surprised by a good bass, well defined high frequencies, and an overall enjoyable experience.
After that, some highs with "Silhouette". Nice highs, though not on the "amazing side". But for this pricerange, i'd really wrong trying to push it against what i hear from kilobucks. This means, you won't get 1000 bucks worth of sound from 40, but you are coasting really closely into the 300-400 range. This means quite a lot, and for price/performance I am way more than satisfied.

Does this kill my Euclids? Nope.
Does this pair of IEM surprise you and become incredibly cost-effective? DEFINITELY.
Sincerely, i can reccomend them easily. They can be both your first step into Hifi and something you buy beside your most prized IEMs, and still find their niche as your faithful sturdy sound companions.
Sound wise, i'd say in this price range would be a 4.5/5, but at this price it goes to a 5/5. Price matters as much as sound, and a low-tier that sounds this good gives a very good base for newcomers, not to mention if the low end of the audio world were to start becoming overpriced/bad, you can bet all other tiers WILL spiral out of control in the price/performance ratio. Way more than it already is.
By the way, i fed them from my HiBy RS8, so yeah i squeezed out of them the absolute most they could, and it shows that they are gems.

Presentation



Hello, friends of AvaliaSom. The one I bring you is the Simgot EW200 Maze, an IEM that was kindly sent to me by Simgot itself for review, without any commitment or obligation to speak highly of the phone, just providing my opinions about it. Xiè xiè, Simgot.

This headset starts at 39.99 USD (or 46.79 USD applying the 17% ICMS tax in Brazil).

NOTE: Affiliate links do not influence my feedback on products.

The evolution of the chi-fi market in 2023 was remarkable, and among all the brands, some stood out a lot, and Simgot is one of them. Previously little known and with a small portfolio (but notable, like the EM2 Roltion which is part of my collection), it decided to take over most price ranges by storm, including the bottom of the table, with beautiful headphones like the EW100P or the EA500 hype master.


And the EW200 Maze, which from now on will just be called EW200, occupies the gap between the two aforementioned headphones. Its unboxing is honest, with a box of compact dimensions but not quite a cigarette box like the one seen on other headphones. On the front of the box, the name of the IEM and, on the back, details about the said product, including a graph showing its adherence to the 2016 Harman curve.


The inner box is simpler, and only features the brand logo. Once opened, it reveals the earphone cradle and a small box for the tips that says “Accessory”. The tips are generic silicone, made up of just one kit. And there is also a larger box, which houses the fabric bag and the cable, which in turn is a beautiful discreet cable, made of silver-plated OFC (oxygen-free copper), with chin slider and plastic splitter, connector in Plastic L with 3.5 mm pin for the source and 0.78 mm pins for the headphones. A velcro strip with the words “Salute to Art and Science” accompanies the handle, and this phrase is also seen on other Simgot models.


The earphone has a body identical to the body of the EW100P, but is made entirely of metal and mirrored like the EA500. On the faceplate there is the brand logo, with the words “Simgot High Resolution” and the previously mentioned greeting. The metal nozzle is inserted into the shell, and features a very restrictive filter, also made of metal. Overall, it's a beautiful phone, and its mirrored look, despite being a fingerprint magnet, brings a very refined look to the EW200.


Its sound is generated by a 10 mm dynamic driver with an SCP diaphragm, a special composite polymer, which Simgot claims combines the best qualities of DLC (diamond-like carbon) and LCP (liquid-crystal polymer) diaphragms.

Comfort


To my ears, the EW200 was extremely comfortable. Its body has some sharp corners, which didn't bother me at all, and even with the relatively short nozzle that provides a shallow insertion, the seal with the L tips was excellent for me, and without any pressure on the ear canal.

Musical Sound

I tried the phone on different sources, which are: iPhone SE (my “DAP”), Dell Laptop, Apple Dongle, Truthear Shio, iFi Uno, Cayin RU6, Topping G5 and ToppingDX3 Pro+.

By the way, I invite you to check out my headphone test playlist on Spotify. This is a dynamic playlist, and the songs can change at any time, but they will always follow the purpose of presenting all the points I mention in my musical evaluation of the headphones.

Regarding sources, the EW200 plays easily on any source, and scales according to the particularities of each one.

• Bass: Level 4/5, Extension 4/5, Speed 5/5, Texture 5/5

As expected from an earphone that adheres to the Harman curve, the bass is very present. No exaggeration, but there is a tasty impact in a “Tourner Dans Le Vide”. They are very pleasant bass, with a lot of floor, a lot of texture, high quality bass. The first seconds of “Ambitions Az a Ridah” make it very clear how good the bass is.

By the way, they are also great bass for the bass line or the drums of a rock song, and the track “When a Blind Man Cries” demonstrates this well, allowing us to feel the bass drum in a very pleasant way. Paraphrasing my friend Alphaloud, I wouldn't say they're sirloin bass, but perhaps wagyu entrecôte bass, intense but refined.

Furthermore, the EW200 further demonstrates the quality of its project in intense songs, without any hassle when listening to “Steel Meets Steel” or similar, as well as having enough speed to play “Through The Fire And Flames” in the best possible way. Very good indeed!

• Midrange: Level 3/5, Presence 4/5, Clarity 4/5, Voices 5/5

The EW200's midrange is slightly recessed in the spectrum, especially in the initial midrange range, given that the mid-highs are very pronounced, as required by the Harman curve. The result of this in practice is that the guitar at the entrance of “Fado do Campo Grande” sounds slightly thinner than expected, just like the lowest piano notes.

The presence of voices is very good, whether male or female voices, and duets like “Meu Fado Meu” sound passionate on this earphone. And speaking of passionate, this is the best adjective to describe the sound of mandolins, Portuguese guitars or similar in this headphone, which sound with a beautiful timbre and a lot of clarity. Flutes are also enchanting, by the way.

I confess that I was afraid that some sibilance would appear listening to Jill Barber tracks, but the EW200 was far from that, and not even “Wuthering Heights” is capable of going over the top, denoting how careful Simgot was when tuning this earphone. And before talking about the treble, just one more honorable mention to the way this headphone plays the guitar solo in “Mal Necessário”. What a show!

• Treble: Level 4/5, Brightness 5/5, Airiness 4/5, Extension 4/5

Given the good bass and midrange, I suspected that the EW200 might fall short in the treble. Okay, I was wrong. What a spectacular brightness, my dears! The splash of the cymbals in a “Espera” is something that made me question the price charged for the earphone. Simply put, I say it's as good as the EA500 , and this headphone costs half the price.

Violin tonality is another fantastic quality of the EW200, and every Lindsey Stirling track translated into a goofy smile on my face. The airness is remarkable, and the extension is also very good, even without relying on a BA to do this work.

The treble tone is also very pleasant, and even a treblehead like me can be enchanted by the earphone's competence in the higher frequencies of the spectrum.

• Technicalities: Sound Stage 4/5, Image 5/5, Layering 3/5, Separation 4/5, Details 3/5, Resolution 5/5

Another point that shows that the EW200 is an outlier is this one: the technicalities. It's true that its stage is not the most three-dimensional or widest on the market, but when we talk about the price range in which it falls, I would say that it leaves the Truthear Zero behind, both in terms of spatiality and the width of the stage, or in other words, it's a beautiful soundstage.

The image formed is quite charming in “In Love With You” , allowing you to identify very well the location of the sounds in the spectrum. Instrument separation is also good, and the resolution of this earphone easily fits in with the resolution seen at the $100 range. He is an exponent, without a doubt.

As there are no miracles, there are two points where the EW200 is just average: in layering and in the level of details. I make it clear that it's not bad, it's just the layering you'd expect from a headset in this price range, while the level of detail is restricted to macro details, most of the time.

Sound in Games

For battle royale games, the EW200 proves to be very good. In the horizontal spectrum, it is extremely accurate in delivering the position of sound emitters, and reminded me of the excellent Jade Audio EA1 in this regard. However, Simgot misses the 10/10 by not being as accurate in locating opponents on the vertical axis. Still, he's still great.

In FPS games, like CS2 ( without changing the sound settings ), the EW200 is perfect! Its tuning really brings out the sound of footsteps, and mapping the sound of opponents moving around the map appears very natural from the first match. Here he takes the 10/10 without a shadow of a doubt.

In casual games, such as Honkai Star Rail, the EW200 delivers a very natural sound, in addition to excellent three-dimensionality, which conveys a great feeling of immersion in a large and living world.

In the simulation games, I missed a little more punch in the bass, although the texture is excellent for hearing the sound of engines in a Forza Motorsport. The sound of what happens around the car is perfectly appreciable.

Sound in Films, Series and Podcasts

The EW200's tuning offers an interesting ability to pair well with any film genre. Lots of dialogue? He does well. Passionate soundtrack? It's the EW200 beach. Shot, beating and bomb? It is the home of the EW200. With that in mind, I recommend anything from a “Donnie Darko” to a “John Wick 4” with this IEM.

And I also recommend the EW200 for anyone looking for an earphone for studying or working, given that its tuning makes voices always evident, even in the case of poor recordings or when the interlocutor's voice is very low.

Conclusion

What a spectacle the EW200 is! I have rarely experienced a relatively cheap headset that was so competent in practically everything. In times of complicated imports in Brazil, finding such a good headset under 50 USD is practically a gift from heaven.

And, by the way, it became the best headphone under 50 USD for me, displacing the Truthear Zero, which has reigned supreme in this position since forever. And I'll go further, maybe it's closer to the Truthear Hexa (my favorite up to 100 USD) than my heart would be able to bear.

With the potential to be an allrounder, the EW200 works well in any musical style, never overdoing itself and always delivering plenty of tonal and technical quality. In addition to these details, it is a beautiful and comfortable headset, with an honest kit of tips, cable and case.

One thing is certain: Simgot knows what it's doing. I hope to have the opportunity to listen to their more expensive headphones in the near future, but from everything I've heard from them so far, they've been just hits. And I definitely recomment this IEM to practically everyone, except bassheads or those who prefer thinner bass. Long live the Simgot EW200!

Big hug!

Simgot EW200: one of the best DD I've tried so far

Intro

The EW200, Simgot's IEM that needs no introduction at this point. I had the opportunity to review this set that features a dynamic driver with an SCP diaphragm, available for around $40 USD, and from what I've read, they're a hit! Let's see how they perform...

If you wish to read this review in Spanish, click here

Check out previous reviews here (or in spanish here)

Disclaimers:

• I would like to thank Simgot’s staff (particularly Fia & Betty) for providing me with this set for an honest review. You can find the EW200 here: https://www.linsoul.com/products/simgot-ew200?_pos=4&_sid=a93150668&_ss=r
• Analysis over 4 days - Sessions of approximately 2 to 4 hours
• All music is lossless (Qobuz > 16bit - 44.1kHz).
• Gear Used: IFI Zen Air Can (AMP) + Fiio E10K (DAC)

Unboxing, Build & Comfort







EW200: I'm increasingly surprised by metal IEMs available in this price range. The entire housing of the EW200 is made of metal with a couple of holes (one on its inner face and one on the outer) to prevent driver flex. It features a 10mm SCP dynamic driver (as declared by Simgot: This diaphragm incorporates a special polymer film as a substrate that is coated with a hybrid silicon layer through dual-sided sputtering deposition). Its connection is a 2-pin 0.78mm type, which is slightly recessed in the IEM, and its nozzle is approximately 5.6mm.

Cable: At first glance, it looks like your ordinary silver-plated cable, but it pleasantly surprised me with its flexibility. I would prefer a straight termination instead of an "L" shape, but that's just a matter of personal preference.



Eartips: A few in quantity and variety for my liking given the price: only 3 pairs of balanced bore silicone tips.

Pouch: Simple, made of fabric, but I always appreciate when one is included.

Comfort: The EW200 provides a moderate level of comfort. Despite being purely metallic, they don't feel heavy when wearing them. The issue, in my opinion, is that they protrude a bit too much. The seal with the provided silicone tips is good and isolates well in noisy situations; I found myself readjusting them in my ears only a few times.

Driveability: It has a very good sensitivity/impedance ratio, making it easy to amplify (sensitivity = 128dB/Vrms (@1kHz) – impedance = 16 ohms). However, this also makes it more susceptible to picking up the source's noise floor when amplified.


Sound Description


Credits: Paul Wasabii

Bass

For EDM, they hold their own, but I must admit they don't have the best subbass I've heard. What I can highlight, however, is the speed of the driver, which ensures that no kick drum is ever lost or delayed.

The impact of the bass is noticeable and slightly above average because, in comparison, the EW200 leans towards an older IEM target, following the Harman curve from 2016, which includes an elevation in the bass region. For electronic albums with a strong focus on bass, like Hardwell's "REBELS NEVER DIE", as well as more rock-oriented genres, this IEM performs wonderfully, bringing the rhythm-driving instruments to the forefront without making them overwhelming.


Mids

Given the intended signature, I didn't expect the EW200 to have such prominent mids, assuming that the bass boost would muddy these frequencies a bit. To my surprise, the warm tuning was clear in the reproduction of both male and female vocalists, with a slight emphasis on the latter's voices. This allowed for a sublime experience when listening to Amy Winehouse on the album "Frank".

I'm going to detail my feelings when listening to instruments with different songs such as "Symphony No. 4 in A minor, Op. 63: II. Allegro molto vivace" by Jean Sibelius performed by the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, "State of Slow Decay" by In Flames, "The Tempest, Op. 18: V. Allegro animato" by Tchaikovsky performed by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, among others.

Speaking about string instruments, cellos and double basses do a good job when played, and they can grab some attention, but it's not a serious issue. Both acoustic and electric guitars have excellent tactility for the price and don't exhibit any apparent metallic tone. Primary and secondary violins, like guitars, tend to stand out effortlessly and even with greater and better definition than the latter. This makes the EW200 ideal for listening to Vivaldi's "Four Seasons", where these string instruments often take center stage.

Among other instruments I analyzed, the piano tends to blend more into the songs, offering a smooth and honest reproduction. Regarding winds, oboes, clarinets, and flutes tend to maintain a balance, neither too soft nor abrasive. Simgot has achieved a good balance in reproducing these instruments.

In general, except perhaps for the piano, most instruments in the midrange have above-average definition considering that these IEMs are often priced at less than $40 USD.


Treble

The potentially most controversial aspect of these IEMs, as it will be extremely subjective depending on the user. In my opinion, in songs with cymbal reproductions in the background like "Survive" by Stratovarius, the cymbals can be a bit too energetic. The definition and clarity in the high frequency spectrum are very good, but it can quickly become fatiguing for individuals who are more sensitive to high frequencies.

That's why in songs where high-pitched sounds are more upfront, such as "Swan Lake, Op. 20, TH. 12 / Act I: No. 1 Scène (Allegro giusto)" by Tchaikovsky performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra (triangles in this case), the EW200 can cause some discomfort. However, I must admit that the level of detail is quite impressive.


Soundstage & Imaging

As usual, I used songs from Iron Maiden's album "Live After Death." I found a wide soundstage in songs like "Hallowed Be Thy Name" and "Rime of the Ancient Mariner", which also had decent depth. I was amazed by the instrument separation and the stage imaging; the guitars were really well separated from Bruce Dickinson's vocals, something haven't achieved by many IEMs.


vs Kiwi Ears Cadenza



I had to compare these two models because the Cadenza was a set that I loved as an upgrade from the 7Hz Salnotes Zero, with a bit more bass, and they are actually priced very similarly to the Simgot EW200 (around $35 USD).


Credits: Paul Wasabii

Scores (TL;DR for those who prefer a more concise format)

• Best to worst (left to right)
• More ">" indicates a greater difference
• "=" is used to indicate that the left and right sets are similar in a certain aspect
• “>=” indicates that two IEMs could be similar depending on the song

. Ergonomics: Cadenza > EW200

. Driveability: EW200 > Cadenza (both are easy to amplify anyways)

. Subbass: Cadenza > EW200

. Bass: EW200 >= Cadenza

. Mids (Male Vocals): EW200 > Cadenza

. Mids (Female Vocals): Cadenza = EW200

. Mids (Instruments): EW200 > Cadenza

. Treble: EW200 > Cadenza (taking into account detail retrieval) – Cadenza > EW200 (for longer listening sessions)

. Imaging: EW200 = Cadenza

. Soundstage: EW200 >> Cadenza


Observations:

• The subbass rumble is better in the Cadenza, while the bass has better detail in the EW200 (the quantity of bass is similar, slightly more in the EW200).
• Cadenza is a bit more reserved with male vocals, whereas the EW200 allows them to shine a bit more. Female vocals are similarly represented in both models, as both give more presence to female singers.
• The mids are clear winners in the EW200, presenting with greater vividness in almost all the instruments I listened to (perhaps the piano might be the exception).
• Treble is a matter of preference, with more detail and a higher potential for fatigue in the EW200; a calmer listening experience in comparison with the Cadenza, never lacking but with slightly less detail than the Simgot set.
• Soundstage is wider in the EW200, but these two models are on par in terms of depth.
• Image and instrument separation are quite similar in both sets; I wouldn't dare say there's a significant difference between them.

Conclusion

It's been several months since I've given a perfect rating to an IEM, so I'm extremely pleased to award the EW200 with 5 stars. Sonically, it's incredibly competent for an IEM priced below $40 USD (usually found around $38 USD), offering great resolution across the entire spectrum and a midrange presence that surprises despite the chosen signature. Being so detailed, I can forgive its aggressiveness in the treble, and furthermore, if Simgot were to include different eartips with the EW200, this IEM would have no rivals for under $50 USD for those who listen to a diverse range of genres like myself.

Specifications

Driver Type: 10 mm dual magnetic circuit and dual cavity dynamic driver. Double-sided vapour deposited silicon crystal diaphragm.
Frequency Response: 10Hz-50kHz.
Effective Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz.
Sensitivity: 126dB/Vrms (@1kHz).
Impedance: 16Ω±15% (@1kHz).
Jack Connector: SE 3.5mm gold-plated.
Cartridge Connection Type: 2Pin 0.78mm.
Cable: OFC high purity silver plated.

Let's start with the contents.
Inside is the EW200, a cable, three sizes of tips, and a felt pouch. All of the items are decent quality, The EW200 are made well a nice solid metal build with shiny polished outside casing. The shape is comfortable, and the isolation was very good.

Sound:
Bass:
The EW200 present with a tight and speedy Mid-Bass punch, The Sub-Bass is thee in the background and has details and presence but is Neutral and Mid-Bass is more prominent. It is definitely a quality more than quantity Bass.

Mids:
Mids are highly detailed and while it handles both well female vocals sound a little more emphasized. Mids have good clarity with separation and an accurate portrayal of note weight.
Treble:
The treble is surprisingly energetic but still has a control on how much is put out. There are good details here and it's even more amazing that this is just a single DD. Highs present crisp, open and well-extended.

Soundstage:
The staging is small but even being equally wide as its depth, still it makes, and accurate portrayal of space and imaging is good.

Conclusion:
The SIMGOT Maze EW200 is a well-tuned neutral IEM with good technicalities, its comfortable well-made and is very pleasant at normal volumes.

Introduction

Once again, Simgot, it goes on and on. In the EW100P review, I already said that Simgot was going to be one of the recurring brands of the summer. And it is confirmed after the presentation of these new EW200s, even with the new EM6L model on the horizon (1DDD + 4BA tuned according to the H-2019 Target Curve). But, back to what concerns us in this article, the EW200s are IEMS with a 10mm SCP diaphragm, dual magnetic circuit and dual-cavity dynamic driver. They have a polished, shiny metal capsule, in the style of the EA500, but smaller. They use a high-quality silver-plated OFC cable, a sophisticated tuning system and advanced technology, plus a dual magnetic circuit and top-level dual-cavity dynamic speaker. From its description, "the EW200's dual magnetic system uses internal and external magnetic paths, reinforced by N52 grade magnets. This design greatly improves dynamic range and transient response, resulting in a wider frequency range and a more immersive and detailed listening experience. The EW200 uses a revolutionary diaphragm material: the SCP diaphragm. This diaphragm incorporates a special polymer film as a substrate that is coated with a layer of hybrid silicon by double-sided sputter deposition. By combining the strengths of DLC and LCP diaphragms, it maintains the high-density midrange performance of LCP diaphragms and the extended and exquisite high-frequency response of DLC diaphragms. It also overcomes the difficulties of high-frequency control and slight harshness found in some audio sources with a DLC diaphragm, resulting in a luxurious, smooth sound with rich layering and spaciousness." There is no doubt that the website provides a lot of information about this model. Let's look at other aspects in this review.



Specifications

• Driver Type: 10 mm dual magnetic circuit and dual cavity dynamic driver. Double-sided vapour deposited silicon crystal diaphragm.
• Frequency Response: 10Hz-50kHz.
• Effective Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz.
• Sensitivity: 126dB/Vrms (@1kHz).
• Impedance: 16Ω±15% (@1kHz).
• Jack Connector: SE 3.5mm gold-plated.
• Cartridge Connection Type: 2Pin 0.78mm.
• Cable: OFC high purity silver plated.

Packaging

The Simgot EW200 comes in a relatively small dark box, whose dimensions are 114x98x37mm. On the main face, in the background, there is a pattern reminiscent of a maze. In the upper left corner is the brand name and slogan. In the centre, in faded gold lettering, you can read "MAZE". Underneath, it says "EW200 HIGH PERFORMANCE" in the bottom right corner is the Hi-Res logo. On the back is a lot of information in 4 languages, including English. It starts at the top with the model description, the frequency response curve and the specifications. Once the outer cardboard is removed, you can see a matte black box with only the brand logo in the centre in holographic silver. Once opened, the capsules can be seen inside a black foam mould lined with black cardboard. To its right is an elongated box containing the accessories. Below this first level is another box containing the cable and the manual. In summary, the complete contents are as follows:

• The two Simgot EW200 capsules.
• One cable.
• One set of white silicone tips, sizes SxMxL.
• One cloth bag for transport.
• One user manual.

It is worth remembering that the price of this product is $40. The accessories are minimal and it seems that the biggest cut is in the construction of the capsules, to a lesser degree in the cable. And, overall, the sound.



Construction and Design

The construction is reminiscent of the EA500 only in its shiny, metallic finish and use of metal. The EW200 headphones feature an all-metal body with a silver mirror finish, made from a precision-machined, high-density cast alloy. The outer face is flat and has several flat faces, while the largest face is a rounded right angle. Inside is a drop-shaped piece, which protrudes out. It contains the logo in its centre and the brand slogan near the edge of the circle. At the apex of the drop there is a small hole. The part containing the 2Pin 0.78mm connection is completely embedded in the body of the capsule and is the classic transparent, rectangular insert with the gold-plated connectors. The inner side has two levels, as usual for the other Simgot models. The lower level has the channel lettering inscribed in a circle near the corner of the capsule. Next to it is the model name. The second level is the base of the mouthpiece, projected from an inclined cone with a hole in its skirt. The nozzles are fully integrated and there is no separation. They have two diameter levels. At the beginning, the diameter is smaller and measures 5mm. The upper edge is 6mm. The total length is approximately 4mm. The inside is protected by a dense metal grid. The capsules have a mirror finish that is a fingerprint magnet and are somewhat heavy in the hands.
The cable consists of two intertwined strands and has a transparent PVC sheath. Inside, the conductor is high-purity silver-plated OFC. On the other hand, the rest of the components are the most common, a black plastic L-connector sleeve. The plug is 3.5mm SE gold-plated. The splitter piece is padlock-shaped and also made of black plastic, with the brand logo embossed on it. The pin is a rectangular piece, also made of black plastic, with the brand name inscribed on it. The 2Pin 0.78mm connectors are straight, inside a straight transparent plastic housing. Each side is differentiated by a red or blue mole to indicate the side. Each cable has a stiffer jacket which gives it an over-ear shape. It is a simple cable in parts, striking for its silver-plated content mixed with more gold-plated wires on the other pair. It is relatively thin, but is a slight departure from being a basic cable. It has a bit of stiffness, is not microphonic, and is generally not bad for the price. Finally, it is comfortable on the ears.



Adjustment and Ergonomics

The most critical thing about the capsules is their weight. Otherwise, the ergonomics are very good. The flat shape of the outer side of the headset makes it fit quite well in the ears. The curved shape of the rim fits perfectly into the pinna and its integration is very high. Once the capsules are fitted, the movement is minimal and the discomfort is almost non-existent, even the weight of the capsules fades away. The inclination of the nozzles is sufficient for orientation to be noticeable. The length is not long enough for insertion to be more than shallow, hopefully it can be medium if longer tips are used. As usual, I have used my large foam-filled tips, which I make at home. With them the fit is immediate and the level of insulation is good. The seal is subtly occlusive although slight movement can spoil it. To improve it, the mouthpieces should be subtly longer.



Sound

Profile

As the frequency response graph in the box itself informs us, the Simgot EW200s move between the Harman Target 2016 and the Simgot-Classic Target. However, I find discrepancies between my own FR and the one provided by the manufacturer. In my case, the low end is closer to the upper-mids. And this is something I welcome. Although, to my ears, it is clear that this is a more exalted set in the upper-mids than in the lows. It is a Harman 2016 pattern that seeks more clarity, stretching the mids, limiting the control zone of the first treble and tilting the curve towards the sub-bass. It is a balanced profile with a clear tendency towards light, without losing sight of the presence of the deepest bass.



Bass

The bass is dry, forceful, but tight, restrained, with a very limited boomy, just enough to maintain naturalness and a realistic and very controlled performance. It is true that I prefer a little more presence, but the EW200s have a bass with a canonical tendency: it sounds as it should and it is presented as a reference. It is not a flabby bass, on the contrary, it is agile and quite fast for its price, with good colour and a gentle, pleasant and quite dynamic behaviour. The speed of its decay is fast and there is hardly any sediment left in its sediments. It does not possess a presence above the rest of the frequency range, but it has the executive authority to demonstrate its quality and presence when needed. So much so, that one expects extra power... I would welcome bass with this quality and superior lift. But control has its limitations, as does the balance demonstrated throughout the range. Incidentally, this is a clean bass, emphasised in the sub-bass, which descends smoothly towards the mids, ridding itself of any rumble or emphasised mid-range aspect. In this way the EW200s demonstrate wisdom, depth, know-how in poor conditions (read dirty and unfiltered bass), agility and the ability to represent planes with ease and clarity, as well as to follow complex bass lines.
In the very low-frequency pure tone test, the quality of the LFOs' performance is noticeable. It is not easy for IEMS in this price class to sound as good as natural and deep. At the lower limit they sound sensory, with a performance that demonstrates a skill that is not easy for higher IEMS. As you move up the frequencies the notes become more audible, but without losing their naturalness, adjusting to a very real timbre, stellar performance for the price and a vivid and very effective realism. Perhaps, to put it mildly, the surface is soft and smooth, not a rough or visceral bass. It's clean, it doesn't tear and that limits the fun and also the informativeness of the texture. You can't have everything for $40, but it's excellent nonetheless.



Mids

The mids start very clean and without any presence of bass contamination, thanks to the finite content of the lower range. This means that there is hardly any warmth in the first half of the midrange. Presence is high, even for male voices. Although its packaging is somewhat thin, for my taste it lacks a bit of physicality, body and base. The upper part of the male voices' frequencies feel higher. Its texture is limited and in it you can see nuances and details that are surprising for the price range. But there is no visceral, deep, physical roughness. On the contrary, as I say, the vocals are lean in this respect. There is also a lack of bite and punch in the lower voices, which are too soft and polite. I instinctively reached for my warmer sources to extract the true potential of the fleshier voices. But to no avail. If you're looking for exuberance in these voices, you're not going to find it. On the contrary, the performance is truly clean, clear and luminous. The projection of detail is high, but, fortunately, it strikes the right balance between body and nuance. Despite the thinness of the male voices, they are not over-exposed in detail, but rather there is a technical and more analytical tendency, but without this being predominant.
The good relationship between vocals and instruments is surprisingly good, the blend is defined and well separated, and the music shines in both aspects. The EW200s are good for vocals, especially female vocals, and also for instruments. For the ensemble, they have the technical ability to recreate an explicit, clear and high-resolution representation for their price range, achieving great definition and cleanness between the two worlds, thanks to a remarkable sense of dynamics, transparency and darkness in the background.
The high-mids have that plateau and tuning that has given such good results to recent IEMS from other brands, such as TinHiFi. In fact, it has a similar tuning, but with a more accentuated technical level. In this sense, this maintained top end brings that characteristic stamp of brightness, clarity and transparency, supported by the efficiency of a dynamic driver that is quite fast in its response. Female vocals are more exuberant and both guitars and brass are more prominent in the ensemble. There is control here, but I can't help but feel that this is a level of exposure that can become tiring over time. Perhaps it is more suited to more discerning ears looking for quality and a more balanced profile, with less bass presence. I'm inclined to go for more presence in the low end. But I can't help thinking about the great quality level that the EW200s have in the midrange, every time I use them, thanks, also, to their level of precision, something very remarkable for their price.



Treble

Dynamic drivers increasingly achieve a more pronounced treble extension. But then you have to know how to fine-tune this extension. And the EW200s achieve this for very little money. All the technical skill is reflected in the treble. There is a relaxed control drop and a noticeable sustained extension up to the air zone. This results in a quite realistic and natural timbre, as well as a sparkling, splashy, almost crisp treble. There is a good level of energy in this range, but it is not overpowering. There is also a remarkable linearity and homogeneity, something that also helps the high notes to maintain their grip on reality without sounding too forced or apparent. The high end keeps a good luminous balance with the rest of the range, but with enough presence to shine on its own, achieving an explicit and slightly protagonist range, which does not show itself as a mere comparsa, but expresses a lot of musical potential at a great level for its price range.



Soundstage, Separation

At the very end, it's time to get down to earth and come back to price. The EW200 costs $40 and you can't ask for extreme detail and resolution. It is quite good for its level. But, pushed to the limits of its performance, micro-detail is only intuitive in the mid-range. Despite the remarkable clarity it possesses, the resolution is quite good, but it is not sufficient to reveal the tiniest nuances. Nevertheless, the perception of transparency is high and this effect manages to counterbalance some shortcomings by offering a relatively bright, dynamic, even energetic sound, as well as possessing moderate macro details and details.
In terms of the stage, it presents itself with width, frontal presence and appreciable laterality, without crossing the 180-degree barrier. The height is distinguishable and the instrumental and vocal positioning is more than acceptable.



Comparisons

TinHiFi C3

As of today, the TinHiFi C3s cost $49 to $40 for the Simgot EW200s. The physical differences are obvious, while the C3s have a resin capsule construction, the EW200s have a polished metal finish. The C3s have a 4-strand silver-plated cable and the EW200s have a 2-strand silver-plated cable. Despite the larger size, the ergonomics of the C3 semi-custom capsules are superior, lighter and with a more occlusive and permanent fit, with a higher level of isolation.
Profile-wise it is very similar in both, although the EW200s are arguably brighter in tune than the C3s. The bass of the C3s is denser and heavier, while the overall sound feels a little darker. There is more clarity and light in the EW200's. They are also easier to move, as they are more sensitive.
The bass of the EW200s is more compact, slightly faster and tighter, more technical. The bass of the C3s is fuller, more extended, especially towards the sub-bass and darker, but its recovery is somewhat slower, it has more punch.
In the midrange, there is more closeness and clarity in the EW200s, more light and transparency. The mids are more diaphanous, which is noticeable in both male and female voices. They feel closer and clearer. On the C3s, the voices don't feel as prominent or expressive. Instrumentation is better represented in the EW200s in its detail and nuance, seeming to have more resolution even. The C3s feel more relaxed in this respect, while the EW200s are more explicit.
Although the high end curve is very similar, the treble of the EW200s is more defined, more noticeable and present, crisper and brighter. In addition, their timbre is more realistic and lifelike. That point of greater brightness and explicit capability gives them a presential and leading edge over the C3s, which have good extension, but are calmer and softer.
The more relaxed, softer and somewhat darker sound of the C3s offers greater cohesion and fluidity. On the other hand, the more incisive and explicit feel of the EW200s projects more sound, detail and even makes the scene appear larger and wider, thanks to the greater sense of dynamics. The greater sense of light, transparency offers a more separated and wider sound. It also looks higher resolution, but, in the end, the level of micro detail may be the same, although it may seem more evident in the EW200s.



Conclusion

Simgot has shown what it can do for twice the price of the EW100P. Make no mistake, that value is only $40 and, without a doubt, with this amount of dollars the brand has managed to create a reference to beat in this tight price range and with so much competition. It doesn't go off the beaten track looking for an alternative sound, it's a cross between the Target Harman 2016 and Simgot's own Target. But, truth be told, that crossover brings a trait of neutrality and clarity that is not easy to find for this price. Not, at least, until now. I haven't tried all the IEMS under $50, nor can I say that the EW200s are the best. But, I can say that this is a clear and obvious recommendation for those looking for a very high price/performance ratio, a clean, clear, detailed, skilful, dynamic, vivid and effective sound, in which all three ranges are very well represented, especially the transition between the mids and the first treble, but without reaching the danger zone that such emphasis always entails. Wise implementation, wise choice. But, to all this, we must add an exemplary level of construction, with polished and shiny metal capsules, as much or more than their sound. It is true that they are a little heavy, but once they fit in your ears, it is as if they disappear, thanks to their outstanding ergonomics. The cable is suitable and comes with a cloth pouch for storage. Well, it's not much more, but I'd rather the brand spent every penny on the most important things: the sound, the construction of the capsules and their ergonomics. A rival to beat and a reference for its price.



Sources Used During the Analysis

• xDuoo Link2 Bal.
• Tempotec MARCH III.
• Burson Audio Playmate II.
• Aune M1p.
• HiBy R3 Pro.

Purchase Link



You can read the full review in Spanish here

𝑺𝑰𝑴𝑮𝑶𝑻 𝑬𝑾200 𝑴𝒂𝒛𝒆 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘: 𝑩𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒆𝒓 𝑬𝑾100𝑷


|| 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ||

In the pursuit of filling out other price categories after their massive rise in interest due to the overwhelmingly positive marketing the EA500 brought in, SIMGOT is quick to go back to the drawing board to push out releases to cover other price point segments.



After previously reviewing and praising SIMGOT’s EW100P a few months back, they have now released another in the same EW line with the Maze EW200 price at roughly $40 depending on where you pick one up. Packed in a metal shell and composed of a dynamic driver with a special diaphragm material, the Maze EW200 aims to compete the sub-$100 skirmishes.

|| 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 ||

• I am in no way, shape, or form affiliated with the brands I review and do not give out preview privileges.

• This set is sent in exchange for an honest review. There is no material or financial incentive for me to do this review and I guarantee no exchange has been done by both parties to influence or sway our opinions on this product.

• My thoughts and opinions are of my own. My experience will entirely differ from everybody else. The contents of this review should not be considered factual as this hobby heavily leans on subjectivity. YMMV.

• I don’t do rankings or tier lists as they can get outdated immediately as a reviewer can change their thoughts of a product to a certain extent. If you do want a recommendation then feel free to reach out so I can help out

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 Simgot 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 𝗦𝗜𝗠𝗚𝗢𝗧, 𝗙𝗶𝗮 𝗟𝗮𝗺, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝗯𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘇 𝗼𝗳 OB ODIO 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗜’𝗺 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴

------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 |

If any of you remember the small and compact box that the previous Shark EW100P comes with, it's almost the same box but instead with a black cover and a maze artwork on the front. The typical bells and whistles IEM boxes such as text, branding and information are all scattered around the box.



| 𝗨𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 |

Like the packaging being similar to the Shark EW100P, the insides as well are basically the same with that release. I don’t find any issue of them reusing manufacturing processes from previous products though.



Upon removing the initial cardboard cover, reveals another black flip-up box with a branding in the middle. Opening it reveals the Maze EW200 ear pieces surrounded with dense foam with an accessories box beside it containing the provided eartips. Underneath the foam layer is a small box that contains the remaining accessories like the cable and the felt pouch along with some paperwork.


𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻:
Paperwork
SIMGOT Maze EW200 earpieces
2-core silver-plated OFC 3.5mm 2-pin L-type cable
3 pairs of normal-bore ear tips(S/M/L)
Felt pouch

I really like the cable that SIMGOT packed this with. It is really light, behaves well, is not kink-prone and is not sticky in the hands. My only gripe was that even if it was with a chin cinch(which works great btw) it's quite big and looked out of place along with the default cable being L-type.



Overall, the accessories of the Maze EW200 are pretty bare bones but they’re more than enough to get you started(at least you get a pouch for storage I guess). Even the accessories are the same with the Shark EW100P if my memory serves me right.


| 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 & 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 |

SIMGOT made the Maze EW200 out of metal with a mirror-finish that is quite hefty for the size. They have been doing this type of finish on multiple offerings such as the popular EA500 and the EA2000. It is quite shiny and reflects light for quite a bit, therefore not making it the most lowkey or subdued IEM when worn. This finish can also be a cause of concern with scratches and the like, though I’m not sure on how it will hold up months after purchase. I highly suggest you take care of things with finishes like this and only time will tell how well this lasts.



The form of the EW200 is basically a metal version of the Maze EW100P, the design as a whole is very similar that even vent hole placement are in the exact place. The nozzle protrudes a decent bit from the body and has a lip for tip stability. A vent is located near the said nozzle as well as this quite sharp of a bulge that can be a potential hotspot point like what I felt when using the EA2000.

Equipped with a new type of dynamic driver configuration that has changes in the diaphragm(SCP) material according to SIMGOT. This implementation is said to benefit from the strengths of both an LCP and DLC driver.


| 𝗜𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 |

With it being a universal fit, you can expect something in the lines of average noise isolation with the Maze EW200 jammed into your ear. This can achieve noise isolation in a pinch though not the best option.


| 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 |

Being quite a small earpiece overall, I did not hurt my ears even with prolonged use unlike the other SIMGOT I tried, particularly the EA2000 which was quite big in the ear. They also don’t get affected by movement making it firmly in my ear. Occlusion effect is about average which is neither good nor bad


** 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘇𝘂 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗮𝗶(𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺) | 𝗭𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗨𝟭 | 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝗟𝗖𝟯𝗧 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝟵(𝗦𝗻𝗮𝗽𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻) **


| 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 |

Again, like it's cheaper brother, the Shark EW10P, it’s really efficient in terms of power, I did not find myself pushing the gain knob of my source to get satisfactory volume. This isn’t really a surprise considering dynamic drivers aren’t known for being hard to drive or that power-hungry.


|| 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 ||

The comparisons with the Shark EW100P doesn’t end there. To sum it up, the Maze EW200 is a more bassier version of the Shark EW100P along with slightly lesser treble energy. I for my own didn’t find any glaring issues with the treble of the Shark EW100P, and would actually only want more low-end for this iteration.



| 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝘀 |

The low-end of the Maze EW200 leans to the more punchy mid bass than the rumbly sub bass. The mid bass hits have a good body, fast attack and fast decay. Sub bass tends to be less present than the midbass.

Though rumble can still be felt and provides a sense of depth , it's not the most forward of the two if you prefer that over midbass.


| 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝘀 |

Both male and female vocals along with instruments sound good, with good air and presence. They can sound lean at times but very rarely. I thought that the Maze EW200 would be your typical Harman/V-shape sound with recessed and lean mids but that doesn’t seem to be the case here that much.

Upper midrange shout is controlled well but steer clear of higher volumes as it can still be overwhelming. Sibilance is still present in Maze EW200 though quite controlled and is sometimes only an issue to very sibilant female voices.


| 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘀 |

If my memory serves me right, the Maze EW200 has a really slight(like really minute) lesser treble than the EW100P. I personally didn’t find any issue with the former’s treble energy but this lesser energy doesn't bother me and is a good thing for those who find the Shark EW100P a tad bit too fatiguing.

Overall sound of the Maze EW200 is extended, with decent details and sounds natural. It has no balanced armature levels of highs and it sometimes feels unresolving or unrefined with things like crashing cymbals play but is quite competent for a dynamic driver.

As always, keep your volume in check(which you should anyway) and the peaky treble is not a problem anymore.


| 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 |

This being a single dynamic driver setup, you can expect technicalities ranging from competent to disappointing. Whilst this is still no planar-magnetic or a balanced armature set, it is quite good at separation and layering with the clean treble execution and potent treble energy. The staging is weirdly compressed or boxed in my experience though not always.

It’s not really too intimate but at the same time not wide enough to be considered wide. This is still usable with both competitive and story-driven games but I’d prefer something more technically adept, like a planar or a hybrid if given the choice.


|| 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 ||

As you clearly see, I'm very much reminded that Maze EW200 is really related to the Shark EW100P with them looking the same and building off the sound that was achieved with the Shark

EW100P to better cater to the people’s taste with a bass lift. This sound quite balanced in my experience, the bass boost SIMGOT did is just right not to outright deviate from its predecessor, whilst still maintaining it’s own character.

Quite a solid contender for $40 with only qualms is that weird staging from time to time. It doesn’t have another flashy technology like a planar or a hybrid driver configuration, but a good dynamic driver in itself can definitely perform if done well

[| 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀 |]

http://www.simgot.com/en/products/detail/29.html

(𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀. 𝗜 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗼𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝗽𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀)

My review of Simgot EW200 is posted on Headphonesty:

Review: Simgot EW200 Maze – Nearly Flawless​

The Simgot EW200 sound practically perfect, with unprecedented finesse at their low price point.​

SIMGOT EW200, The MAZE

Disclaimer!

This unit was sent by Simgot. However, they did not pay me for any written reviews. I will try my best to review this unit without any bias. Please bear with me that I am not a professional sound engineer or musician, but I am just a self-learnt guitarist & vocalist, who do compose my own original music and self-learnt some mixing & mastering techniques. I am a neutral-head, analytical head and liking balanced sounding tunings. I am using an audio interface named Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen (a kind of DAC/Amp???) pairing for the whole listening impressions. Please take my reviews as grain of salts.

Pros:

- Harman Neutral Tuning (Bass might be slightly more boosted than Harman Neutral???)

- Well done bass

- Good decent technicalities

- Easy to drive

- Budget with good value

- Metal shell

- Intimate vocal

- Good analytical set

Cons:

- Semi-braided cable

- Slight driver flex

- Highs could be more refine

- Slightly narrow soundstage

- Upper mids could be slightly harsh

- Heavy shell



Sound Quality:

Simgot EW200 is having a Harman Target tuning signature. The tonality here is natural balance sounding. Technicalities are decent especially with such asking price.

Bass:

The bass here is mildly boosted just like harman kind of well-cooked bass, possible having some added warmth too. The sub-bass here did rumble. However, it is not that kind of huge bass that bass-head looking for. Every single kickdrum could be heard, but it is not that full-bodied or it could be described as dry or clean kickdrum sound. Mid bass here is slightly warm, where it could be slightly bleeding into the mids. Bass guitar could be easily heard borderline between analytical & fun sounding bass. Sub-bass is slightly more emphasized than mid-bass. The overall lows presentation is quite unique, imagine that it is a kind of harman target bass, but then, it is not exactly that kind of lean bass from commonly harman tuned bass.

Mids:



The mids here is slightly upfront. The upper mids here could be borderline from sibilance-free. Both male and female vocalist are sweet sounding. Air breathing, sweetness from vocalist is very pleasant, especially female vocalist, it is just like goddess singing to you, very intimate. Instrumental mids such as guitars are quite natural acoustically, where the brightness really benefits from it. The distorted electric guitar sound is quite on-spot, somewhat reminds me the real sound of my electric guitar when I am jamming with my bandmate. The upper harmonics reverberation region from the guitars are tasteful. Strings instrument are quite natural sounding. The whole mids region will be really very good for analytical head, as it is considering quite dry sounding, which is very discrete sounding, free from mess mud.

Highs:

Highs here are quite bright sounding, but not as extended. Percussive highs are impactful, providing some energetic feeling especially when listening to band rock kind of track. Highs sensitive folks might find it slightly harsh sounding. Details retrieval here is decent. Highs here is not as discrete sounding could be slightly splashy sounding, possible needing some refinement. Those that are looking for smooth highs might really need to look elsewhere.

Tonality:

To be precise, it is not exactly harman target kind of tuning, instead, my ears told me that, it is kind of a mildly boosted warm well-controlled bass, with some analytical mids and highs, or I shall mention that, only the mids and highs are somewhat reflecting to the harman target kind of signature? It could be an analytical cold kind of signature, but the bass here is having some fun factors, but not bass-head kind.

Technicalities:

The soundstage here is average, intimate, could be quite narrow sounding too? Instrument separation abilities is decent. Able to provide some macro-details, micro-details might not be that obvious.

Conclusion:

Simgot EW200, the MAZE, is quite amazing sounding IEMs. Despite being tuned towards harman neutral target, but it is not exactly harman neutral kind of sounding, the bass did improve slightly from harman kind of lean bass. Bright analytical sounding IEM. Analytical head will be quite liking Simgot EW200. Possible most user might be liking EW200 too, as it is not only meant for analytical head, it is quite balanced overall, tonally correct. The mirror like shell finishing will be very attractive to use it in public too. In conclusion, it is a good recommended set.

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mrk2SHC

SIMGOT MAZE EW200 High Performance IEM
Redcarmoose Labs August 8th, 2023



So I’m fiddling around here at Redcarmoose Labs when this box arrives. Normally I just set a box that arrives aside, but this particular box was different. It’s been hit or miss with SIMGOT lately. While I gave the little brother to the EW200, the SIMGOT EW100P and the EM2R only 3 out of 5 stars.....I had read good things about the EW200. And to contrast all this, the SIMGOT EA500 was one of the very best under $100.00 IEMs I had ever heard.

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/simgot-ew100p.26454/reviews#review-30887
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/simgot-em2r-roltion.26084/reviews#review-29526
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/simgot-ea500.26361/reviews#review-30453

I mean if your wondering what IEM I often recommend to people who occasionally ask for a great $79.00 model, the EA500 fits that bill. And it’s not just about fulfilling someones desired sound signature, because the SIMGOT EA500 is just so darn good, it gets recommended no matter what. The EA500 held a little of the magic that budget IEMs are known for……when you’re listening you don’t want or need anything else.

So along comes this funny little box. It has the word MAZE written on it. I take out the IEMs and they are heavy…..at a total of 9 grams a piece. Really this is middle weight, but recent memory doesn’t included any 9 gram $39.99 IEMs. Heck…….the SIMGOT EA500 is 10 grams. So you can see where I’m going with this, the EW100P weighed nothing, same as the EM2R. Yet when SIMGOT decides to build with solid metal, they really create something. So how’s it sound, and how’s the fit?

First impressions are really good. It’s surprising just how the value segment of the Chinese IEM market has evolved. I mean this does not in anyway sound like the $39.99 IEMs from a few years ago. What SIMGOT is doing is taking the Harman sound design curve and running with it. Except they are adding that touch of spice that makes it interesting and fun. Now I’m not sure if the prior SIMGOT EW100P was simply a miss for myself, because reading about others experience, it also had the Harman tuning, yet was boring? Here technicalities are way improved…….things like separation, and bass texture, and soundstage imaging….I could go on and on, but I will get to that later.




The close to direct price-point competition:
The Kiwi ears Dolce

The $24.99 Dolce couldn’t hold a candle to today's out-come.

And sadly (to finish-up this introduction) there was a major causality it todays testing. I can’t make this stuff up. The poor little Kiwi ears $24.99 Dolce couldn’t hold a candle to today’s out-come. Yep, it seems I was right in the middle of the Dolce review when the MAZE EW200 arrived. Now yes there is a price difference, and a weight difference where the little Dolce is only 4 grams a piece in contrast to the EW200 9 grams each. Both are single-full-range 10mm dynamic drivers, with the SIMGOT a 10mm SCP Diaphragm and the Kiwi ears offering a LPD Diaphragm. Still in demoing them side-by-side, while there was nothing wrong with what the Dolce did, the EW200 was way more involving. The EW200 had the bigger stage, the higher contrasts and the more vivid timbre. Technically and frequency wise, the SIMGOT was simply more what I’m looking for? And……I’m about 99.99% sure you will be looking for the same features as I.

$24.99
https://www.linsoul.com/products/kiwi-ears-dolce

$39.99
https://www.linsoul.com/products/simgot-ew200

This was suppose to be the end of the introduction? Let’s see……we basically annihilated the poor little Dolce IEM, we are far better than the previously offered SIMGOT EW100P and EM2R Roltion. And this is not simply a matter of desired frequency response………no across the board the EW100P was boring, the EM2R lacked note weight and the Dolce simply was out maneuvered in both technicalities and FR. Does this mean you should buy the MAZE EW200? Heck yes, I think it’s a recommendation at its best. I’m going to go into more details with packaging, design, cables and the tune/technicalities………but you really don’t need to read any further, you really don’t. These reviews can be way too long and only for a certain style of reader, where this is a style of no-brainer purchase, yep. You will thank-me later, you really will.

Packaging:

This little box has a nice way about it. Having a subtle yet detailed presentation of box-within-a-box. We start with the main box and flip it over to examine the IEM features disclosed on the back. Then take-off the wrapper to find a second box which slides out sideways. Once the lid of that box is opened we find both the IEMs it holds as well as an accessory box. Finally taking every box out we find the cable in a different box (along with paperwork) as well as the ear-tips and a pouch.

Cable:
Oxygen-free copper silver-plated cable with a detachable 0.78mm 2-pin.



The cable may not look like much, but it’s the cat’s meow. Everything about the cable is a stand-out feature especially at this price-point. The chin-cinch, the splitter, the markings of red or blue on the 2Pin. They firm way and definite way the 2Pins slide into just enough of the IEM body to get grip. While yes, this IEM is borderline heavy, so cable ergonomics are extra important to successful listening. There are ear-hooks, then the overall feeing of the cable, the manageability of it. The way it’s totally clear and you can look inside to see the metal elements? This marketing term of the Dual-socket system is real, and of value…….simply the way the 2Pin seats is totally firm and unique in my experience.

Ear-tips:
You are given 3 sets into S/M/L, and they are my favorite style of silicone ear-tips. Now I may normally use a slightly wider bore, but this shape and style is what I try to use 100% of the time.

Build:
Probably the most stand-out feature is the driver type. A totally new style of driver, that combined with the high-density cast alloy body with specific tuning (filter) system is how we reach our sound. Interesting too, SIMGOT says the weight helps cancel out cable noise interference which makes sense? I don’t want to included the driver construction methods SIMGOT suggests as I think part of it was lost in translation? But let’s just say this SCP diaphragm is a combo of Diamond Like Carbon joined with the properties of Liquid Crystal Polymer. I will say there is possibly something to this construction, with the unique mid-density combined with a textured low-end……..and smooth, yet detailed treble. Those my friends aren’t just words, but the inclusion of advanced technology that is creating a winning sound through frequency response and impressive technicalities.




Driver 10mm Dual-Magnetic Circuit & Dual-Cavity Dynamic Driver
Diaphragm Double-Sided Vapor Deposited Silicon Crystal Diaphragm
Impedance 16Ω±15% (@1kHz)
Sensitivity 126dB/Vrms (@1kHz)
Frequency Response Range 10Hz-50kHz
Effective Frequency Response 20Hz-20kHz
Earphone Connector 0.78mm 2-Pin
Cable High-purity Silver-Plated OFC Cable

Each IEM has the regular air-port vents, with one on the back as seen in the photographs one right at the 2Pin. Interestingly the marketing air-brushed pictures show a third vent a-top the faceplate. Yet upon closer inspection (in daylight with a jewelers loop) it can be noted that the vent is nothing more than ornamentation, at least I’m about 90% sure of the fact. The other critical feature is showcased where the inside vent is positioned, showing free air-movement due to the space created under the ear-tip when in use.

Probably the magic here revolves around the exact size offered by the MAZE EW200. Meaning yes it has weight, but that weight sits super close to your ear, never hanging outside. You see it’s not exactly an IEMs weight, but where that weight is positioned that makes all the difference. Also it would seem the shinny finish would be a fingerprint magnet, yet in regular use that somehow is not an issue? It maybe the faceplate design which has an extra detail on-top which creates a scuff-free surface? Also contrary to what you may guess the hard edges of the faceplate are of use helping grab the EW200 and find placement. But since the hard outer edge only faces the exterior of the ear, there is never issues with comfort. It’s like grabbing a cookie or something? One finger rests on-top and the other cradles the lower-tip believe it or not?

To summarize:
The MAZE EW200 offers great included working ear-tips and ergonomics, though at first I was not sure due to size and weight? The cable is fine as well as such a package of extras seems just right when purchasing an IEM at this price. Reading through the instructions and warranty card represents a company that is both fair and practical as well as conscientious to the buyer’s needs.

Sound:
After a period of a few days of burn-in the sound section was focused on. And while an added amount of smoothness and extension was arrived at, really they were darn good straight out of the box. In testing I used the Walkman WM1A with MrWalkmans firmware as well as my favorite wide-bore ear-tips. I also used the included cable for 100% of the testing. But, but before I got started I did a thorough testing of cables. I used the Penon Space first, then the Penon Bass and the Penon Vocal cable. Each was offering a slightly different playback, though primarily it was the use of a different 4.4mm amplifier. Though I will say the MAZE EW200 showed great soundstage expansion with the Space Cable as well as the Penon Vocal made the midrange louder which was questionable if that was a benefit? Probably in use the Penon Bass Cable and Space were the very best showing slight changes, though nothing earth shattering? It would be advantageous for someone interested in getting an extra 5% or 10% improvement to research different ways of amplification or cables. Though really much of how the MAZE EW200 remained consistent. Meaning there is only so much improvement you’re going to get from a $39.99 IEM, yet it is there. And remarkably the $99.90 Penon Space Cable did make sense. Though remember probably investing another $39.01 added to the cost of the $39.99 EW200 maybe would get you more happiness with the SIMGOT EA500. As the way I look at it, the EW200 is still under the ability found in the SIMGOT EA500. Still they are slightly tuned different. Probably the main difference seems to be the low-end size and the treble emphasis. Where for this model SIMGOT merged the SIMGOT Classic target and the 2016 Harman Target to get a middle ground, way less feisty in the treble and midrange than the EA500. Gone are the (red and black ring) filter choices in the EA500, also kind-of a middle ground, offering the best of everything as far as demeanor goes.

Comparisons:
Now to do a few comparisons….the 2.7kHz Pinna Peak was the entire focus of the EA500….almost. And while there was a way to blend the EA500 a little with different ear-tips and a different cable……….the BA added to the DD created these differences along with tuning. Where the MAZE EW200 comes off somehow smoother (minus 1 BA) in many ways to the EA500, there is still more treble interaction than say the $24.99 Dolce, being also a single 10mm DD. What really has me intrigued is the new SIMGOT EM6L…………reason being it has 4BAs and a DD. But more than that, it is offering a smoother Pinna Gain (Ear-Gain) moved to the right and extra smoothness with how all 4 BAs have been utilized. Yep, the SIMGOT EM6L at $109.99, has a whole new tuning, a new (Harman 2019) different from what I have seen from SIMGOT. There can be really something to the ear-gain peaking at 4kHz……of course that also all depends on the rest of the tune balance.

The MAZE EW200:

Back to what we have here. Looking at the provided corporate graph would have to believe there is way more midrange presence than I hear. So to included another graph here......gets us more in-line to how I hear them.


Graph of the Simgot EW200 via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler artifact peak.

While this is a style of Harman it is also not boring. Now of course the differences in the two graphs could also be maybe marketing, where SIMGOT knows their major buyers are looking at a forward midrange as opposed to thicker low-end.


Treble:
What can I say, I really notice my regular in-use wide-bore ear-tips opening up the stage and including the guitar harmonics and detail here? The MAZE EW200 is really walking that line offering great and unheard-of detail for a single DD. It’s really, really good. Such detail enables the listener to discern multiple guitar tracks and enjoy layered harmonics coming different from right to left. There is an amber glow to the guitar right-off at 00:03. Right at 00:04 the drums and vocals emerge. And while of course I have heard the drums more dramatic, there is something very special with this vocal placement. Really it’s exactly right? The toms flying across the stage at 00:08 to 00:11 are amazingly separated here. This is the value here, that rarely do we encounter such fireworks for $39.99? And being this is the treble section the 00:31 and 00:32 cymbals are actually sparkly? And really not splashy, but contained and correct holding just the techniques needed to fully pull-this-number-off. If you would take these and go to a head-phone show and put them in someones ears (who liked Rock) and played them, I’m pretty sure they couldn’t guess the price, they would totally guess more money. And that is why I started the section off taking about the treble. To me anyway, the treble is what is at first surprising here, it’s just so well done and complete? If you take a tour of single full-range DDs, examples like the lovable 7Hz Salnotes Zero have immense popularity, but the treble is way more rolled-off than we have here, as this is the introduction of classy technicalities, that is truly stand-out for the single full-range DD realm.

So to reiterate on the treble inclusions, they come off sounding metallic but metal-like in a great way, not dull or lackluster, but it is in fact the imaging into the stage combined with the tone that is so special at the price point. Just the perfect balance of action and a true form of naturalness.

Ghost
Hunter’s Moon
(Halloween Kills OST)
44.1 kHz - 24 bit



Bass:
Hans Zimmer & Benjamin Wallfisch
Blade Runner 2049 OST
Mesa
44.1 kHz - 16 bit

Here is the thing, there are bass separations that are found wildly outside of the stage. Even at 00:03 we start to hear the start of this phenomena. There are also explosions or thunder, probably like those big propane explosions like in the opening of the original Blade Runner? At 00:09 they take place……..and such sounds are a testament to the ability here, to offer a deep background along with great transients. You know those transients that get you the definition in imaging with a sound like this. It is not compromised in the slightest. So note how I’m showing abilities at both ends of the spectrum. Often with full-range Dynamic Drivers there is a give and take, somewhere……but these are just that good. Now of course it could be my music too, I mean I’m playing the songs that high-light the ability. Another blasts hits at the 00:16 mark……it may just be the heavy metal shells that are creating this effect of clarity? You can hear the extent of the abilities, I mean this is no $200 IEM, still how it performs and what it does are rare, and maybe not ever found at under $40? The tone is deep, clear and in-focus?

Midrange:



DCD
Anastasis
Kiko
44.1 kHz - 24 bit
While the cymbal ride at the start is not as vivid as I’ve heard with more expensive sets, there is nothing really to complain about. At 00:38 this stringed instrument hits. Seeing Brendan Perry play this live he uses a 8 string Greek Pegasus Trichordo Bouzouki. And while I’ve heard this song for years it is probably the first time in the (this) review that a slight subdued realism is noted. Meaning the treble in the first song and the lows in the last song were fully there and for the most part realistic. And I don’t know why this is but I have often heard it more forward and jumping-out in the mix? Still it’s incredibly natural and while slightly subdued, not in any way a party pooper. In fact once the synth accompaniment takes place it goes to add vibrance and fullness to the song. Though the main concern will be vocals and how they are addressed. At 01:13 Lisa Gerrard makes her entrance, and what an entrance it is! Now all is well, and it wasn’t that the string instrument was bad in any way, it was just slightly farther back and didn’t show the separation that I’m used to, and remember I’m used to hearing this on a more expensive set. It is kind of like different sequences of information take your focus, first the intro of world guitar, then Lisa Gerrard takes the spotlight, only to take it all that much further with her ideas of music on the seductive yangqin (a Chinese hammered dulcimer). At 01:48 we are really at the center of the musical message with both the Yanggin and Greek Pegasus Trichordo Bouzouki playing side by side. The special part is we can differentiate between the instruments. The major part of this success is the note weight, that and the fact that over-all the character of the music is complete, even and correct. At 04:30 there is a wonderful pace to the song that almost becomes a feeling of floating, that’s when Lisa Gerrard comes back again for more vocal tremolos to take this number over the top…….as who needs lyrics?



Conclusion:
What can I say that hasn’t already been said about the The MAZE EW200? The truth is not all $39.99 IEMs are created equal. When before at $39.99 you were hopping for acceptable replay, now we are gifted with dynamics and authority. But to really get down to earth here, the tone combined with the offered technicalities challenges more expensive IEMs. And the fact you don’t need an expensive cable or DAP to perceive these gifts. Yet at the same time the The MAZE EW200 does have the ability to scale-up. The The MAZE EW200 package comes with a great cable and fully useable ear-tips, even a basic carrying pouch. Yet the sound is what we are all after, and sound is what you get. I mean there is a real good reason why SIMGOT is on fire right now, and the The MAZE EW200 is one of the best examples of why. And while (for whatever reason) I started with the treble and bass, as those are typically where we find some kind of compromise with full-range DDs? Yet both the treble and bass were as they say…......off the charts in performance. And the mids were not too shabby either. If anything these are well tuned, even and complete examples of just how much things have changed in the value sector. And things like the physical weight are truly different for an IEM of this style, but I think that’s where the low-end clarity takes place, that this alloy is sound absorbing. The treble……is probably the very first thing you will notice, and just how good it really is. I mean that one area used to be an area of concern, where we used to fall back on price as an excuse for the treble being uneven or lackluster, but not anymore, not with the MAZE!

It doesn’t matter what you want to use these for. Jogging they stay in place, but border on probably the heaviest set I would recommend. Listening off your phone, they are fine, even critical listening with your best equipment they start to scale well, all and all performing way better than the price would have you guess.

$39.99
https://www.linsoul.com/products/simgot-ew200

Linsoul website: https://www.linsoul.com/
Linsoul Aliexpress Store: https://ddaudio.aliexpress.com/store/2894006
Linsoul USA Amazon Store link: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=merchant-items&me=A267P2DT104U3C

Disclaimer:
I want to thank Fia Lam from SIMGOT for the MAZE EW200 review sample.

Disclaimer:
These are one persons ideas and concepts, your results may vary.

Equipment Used:
Sony WM1A Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 3.5mm and 4.4mm
Sony TA-ZH1ES DAC/AMP Firmware 1.03
Electra Glide Audio Reference Glide-Reference Standard "Fatboy" Power Cord
Sony Walkman Cradle BCR-NWH10
AudioQuest Carbon USB
Shanling UA3 Dongle DAC/Amplifier
Samsung Phone 3.5mm output

Simgot EW200

Today's budget sets have gotten good. So good they mimic some of the best tuned dynamic IEMs from just a few years ago. Competition for the best sound for your hard earned money has ramped up so much that we get sets that are pushing the envelope at all price levels. The EW200 is simply put one of the best IEMs I have heard at the meager price Simgot is asking for a set. Being an IEM reviewer. It surprises me to no end that these $40 IEMs can easily compete with some of the better $100 level IEMs in sound quality especially if you're willing to upgrade the cable that comes with the EW200. Will get into that more so later on the read.

No question, the value just based on its sound and tuning is there. If you already read some of the reviews for the set you will see that others agree with the quality in general of the EW200 but it will be its sound quality that will agreeable with many.

The EW200 uses a silicone crystal polymer, supposedly a combination of the DLC and an LCP diaphragms. 10mm dynamic, dual magnets and dual cavity design. Something you don't see much if at all for sub $50 sets. So right away its design stems from much more expensive single dynamic IEMs. The tuning is a cross between the 2016 harmon and Simgot target. So the treble gets a slight elevation over harmon tuning.

What it comes with
A set of silicones, a silver plated OFC cable in single ended and a pouch. What you would expect for budget level sets. So nothing here revolutionary but I do like the cable it comes with. Which is functionable, light and gets the job done. No concerns for the accessories given the price it is sold at. Again this set is more based on what Simgot is offering the consumer for the IEMs themselves more so than getting anything noteworthy for accessories.

Build.
The all metal shells of the EW200 have a comfortable smaller side of medium in size shape. Its ergonomic shell shape and size will bode well for people of all ear shapes and sizes. It might be a great pick up for folks that do walks or jogging, bike riding and such due to its flat outer shape. The flat outer shape will help reduce wind noise when doing physical activities. It is usually shells that protrude outside the ears that will catch wind noise more so than something like the EW200. Passive isolation is not the best for metal builds, I would say about average but certainly not bad here either. I can tell the shells will handle a drop here and there with no issue. So the build and the shape is actually one of the better aspects of the EW200.

I would like to thank Simgot for a sample of the EW200. It was provided for the purpose of a review. You can read more about the EW200 on their official website. Here. The EW200 was burned in for a period of over a week. They have been tested on my sources. Fiio M15, M15S, BTR7, Shanling M6 pro, Ibasso DX300Max, Fiio K9 ESS, and IFI Signature for amping.

Sound.
Here is the reason why these are worth picking up at the price point. The EW200 presents with a mostly balanced tuning with a slight emphasis towards its bass and just enough mid treble emphasis to balance its tonal qualities. The EW200 will be versatile for all types of music, and while the EW200 is not exactly at the sound quality level of its older brother the EA500. It definitely hangs easily with some of the absolute best sounding IEMs for the bucks and against others that I have tested at the price range. While the EW200s tuning aspects, its 10mm driver and the overall design associated with the set mimics higher end IEMs. It also mimics higher end sound characteristics but is not exactly at the same level of said higher end IEMs. But truth be told, at this price range, it more than lives up to its billing and sound quality. Harmon tuned IEMs in general are more based on balance of sound vs being overly emphasized in any one part of its sound design. The EW200 is a prime example of a well balanced tuning with a higher level of a natural and slightly organic tonal quality you would never associate with budget sets at this price point.

The EW200 incorporates a simple .78mm 2 pin cable design meaning, Simgot clearly encourages the user to try your better aftermarket cables to help enhance its sound characteristics. With better cable matchups these will come very close to the stock EA500 in sound and that is quite the achievement. Due to its lack of included tips and while its stock cable will give you a good idea of what the sound will be. I highly recommend using your best aftermarket tips and cable pairings. Since the sound tuning and its balancing is there. This is the one set that I can easily break my own rule of not using cables that cost more than the IEMs. Forget that. It does bring the sound quality up a notch or two.

Trebles of the EW200 have just enough presence and sparkle to balance the sound signature. It's got just a touch more emphasis than a true harmon target and an intentional slight extra emphasis in the upper trebles create an airy quality for the sound that has just the right amount of air with no artificial glare anywhere to the sound. The end results makes the EW200 sound presentation a touch airy and never canned. Not exactly open sounding but more semi open in sound quality.

I think the one aspect of its sound that could have been a bit better would have been its stage emphasis. I consider it a moderate average stage for IEMs but it is due to just how well this set is tuned, I can only imagine if the EW200 had a wider stage with this exact tuning. Would definitely contend against much higher sets. I am a firm believer of housing integration and driver positioning inside that housing that leads to a sounds stage perception. The flat shells of the EW200 sit relatively flat against your ear when worn. Meaning the drivers and its sound production is actually inside your ear. This leads to an average more intimate stage for IEMs. If the housing was a touch bigger and its drivers were not set inside the ears. I do believe it would have made the EW200 sound even wider than its current sound profile shows. Just a nit pick on my end but the sound quality is very good, only if it had a wider more spacious sound presentation. It would have put the EW200 in a rare level for IEMs at the price.

The trebles macro details are solid and even have some decent micro details which usually much higher end IEMs do better but for a $40 IEM to show that it is using a higher end driver that does so much right including its treble aspects. I really can’t fault the sound quality on this one.

I still own a variety of cheaper sub $50 IEMs I have collected through the years and I might have a set or two from the Audio Technica line that matches the detail level of the EW200 but then the rest of the sound aspects are not tuned as good. Yesteryear's sub $50 IEMs don't match the balancing or the timbre level of the EW200. The one aspect I appreciate about the EW200 is that ultimately its sound is fluid, cohesive with very good balancing. No forced trebles with large spikes with just enough sparkle and air to bring a higher quality sound and ability to a $40 IEM.

Mids is where the Harmon tuned IEMs bring presence for both vocals and instruments alike. Especially for female vocals and stringed instruments. Harmon tuning favors the upper harmonics and it clearly shows for the EW200. Its layering is also done very well with good but not outstanding note weight. Lower registered notes, while not exactly ideal, does a great job even for male vocals. This is the one area that can lack for harmon tuned IEMs the EW200 has enough presents for its lower mid range to not thin out the sound to the point of an unnatural leaner sound like a lot of pure V shaped tunings you see rampant at this price level. Here is where I feel its older brother the EA500 does better. EA500 has a fuller, more substantial note weight vs the EW200 but if you never have heard the EA500 before. This is a case of ignorance is bliss as the note weight for the EW200 is more than acceptable.

Mids tonality sounds a bit more neutral vs the richer tonal character for the EA500 but has a touch of that richer tonal character going on at the same time. A bit organic with very good timbre characteristics. The EW200 technicalities as far as imaging, sound separation, its stage and details are all at some of the better levels at the given price minus the stage which is give or take about average, I posted about earlier. Again if that stage was more expansive. One can wish I suppose. Gives something for Simgot to think about here. Otherwise I have not heard too many that can outdo the EW200 in the sub $50 range, it will take a higher end set to do one better. Cheaper BA sets in the price might give some competition as far as details goes but no way will the sub $40 BA set sound better for naturalness with a proper timbre for vocals and instruments at the price. Mids are proper on the EW200 hence the love for it from the other reviewers and myself. The most important aspect of any IEM if the mids don’t have proper presence and detail it will lose to others in the game.

I have owned numerous dual cavity and dual magnet dynamic IEMs and essentially a dual magnet set up is a bit like having two dynamic drivers without the need for a 2nd dynamic driver. The dual magnet array does a more efficient job at helping the driver produce a quicker response than using one magnet hence this is usually reserved for more expensive sets. Not too many IEMs will have a dual magnet set up for sub $50 IEMs. This also shows a better more tactile ability for bass.

Bass is indeed as solid as the rest of the sound profile and a strong suit. EW200 has a moderate 7db average bass elevation for its bass emphasis. Which is like a goldilocks of bass presence, impact and rumble for sub bass performance. Its moderate bass foundation is just enough for something like pop music and even bass genres like EDM and hiphop to come correct. Its bass presentation is tight, has good speed for dynamics and has zero sloppiness in the form of a bass shadow. This aspect alone makes the EW200 stand out as one of the better bass performing sets at the price. I have done bassy V shaped IEMs that have nowhere close to the balancing for the EW200 let alone a proper well representing bass end at the price. Bass definition here is definitely above average as its texture represents an accurate bass ability. Its got good solid definition for bass impact with an actual realistic bass decay that is associated with much more expensive bass sets. While the sheer quantity may not be anywhere close to a basshead level. Then it would clearly not put the EW200 in the balanced category for sound. Bass has some moxie for what it is and that's certainly not a bad thing. Regardless of price, if the bass end is weak, it gets no play from me. The EW200 bass ability and its defined bass characteristics is what makes the set more versatile. It clearly stays well controlled has excellent tonality when it comes to bass and is is playing easily with some of the better tuned IEMs for bass at the sub $100 level let alone at $40.

Overall the EW200 has been a great experience for me. As a reviewer of all things that sound good in my ears, the EW200 has shined. It is the type of set you can never feel guilty about buying for loved ones and friends and even more importantly for yourself. They all will clearly enjoy it for its sheer sound quality, Its balancing, its very good tonal and timbral characteristics with a nicely deep reaching textured and tight bass end to go along with it makes the EW200 not only versatile but one of the best sets I have ever tested and reviewed at the price. I am thinking if Simgot actually made the stage of the EW200 to a nice higher end level. They would have probably charged accordingly is my thought. For what you're paying for a pair, in our hobby, it just doesn't get much better. I have heard plenty that are worse at double the price. Let me put it that way. Its solid all metal construction will make them last for a lifetime with the ability to use much better aftermarket cables. This one is in the very good category for IEMs my friends and it didn’t take some random reviewers collab to bring you the goods. Thanks for taking the time to read. Remember, friends don't let friends buy bad sounding IEMs. Give them the EW200 instead.

Bonus cable pairings.
The EW200 at 16 Ohm is a very easy to drive IEM. Will work well with its included cable but much like other dynamic IEMs it will clearly take advantage of more power. Easiest way to do that is to use a balanced cable and the balanced out from your better DAPs or sources. The stock cable is quite good at producing a base sound for the EW200 but it is afterall a sub $40 IEM so the relatively thin 2 core OFC based cable is ok but if you want to maximize what the EW200 can sound like. Use your better aftermarket cables for more power while optimizing its sound. My recommendation is to try your other 2 pins and see how that affects the EW200 and go from there. These are my own findings from better cables on the EW200

Penon CS819
These cables are a mixed copper and silver plated copper type cable but in 8 cores vs the thin 2 cores of the stock cable. This cable is like a much better version of the stock cable that comes with the EW200. And yes out of the gate the CS819 cost more than the IEMs themselves, which can be bought at a cool $49. However one can argue that the combination of the CS819 and the EW200 will challenge even its older sibling the EA500 for sheer sonics. The sound becomes more expansive, more spacious. Since the cables make up is similar to the stock cable this cable does not tweak with the tonal character of the EW200 but it will give a definitive upgrade on what the stock cable does. Better depth and weight of sound as a result of this cable and the more powerful dynamic sound qualities associated with balanced power out of your players.

Pure silver cables/ Xinhs/ NiceHCK/ KBear
These cheaper $20-$40 pure silver cables from these manufacturers are actually made with real pure silver. NiceHCK showed me an actual metallurgy certificate of its purity at 99.99% pure silver. So yes the good news is you can buy a pure silver IEM cable at some budget friendly prices. If you want a more analytical take on the EW200 sound signature. This is how you achieve it. These pure silver cables does exactly as advertised. Gives you the cleanest fastest signal path to the EW200. When it comes to the EW200s technical ability a pure silver cables enhances these aspects. Its tonal character shifts ever so slightly to a cooler neutral but still very much natural sounding. Bass end becomes a touch leaner but brings more focus to its treble emphasis. Hence you will get a slightly more neutral more detailed version of the EW200 sound. If you like your sound as detailed as possible. These cables will do that for you but will not cost more than the EW200. A set of these cables are worth getting anyhow since it is pure silver. I recommend spending a bit to get the 8 core variant. It is a level above the 4 cored version in my testing. Worth the extra imo.

Generic copper. Xinhs, NiceHCK, KB EAR
Copper cables are a staple of a cables make up and here you dont have to spend a lot to achieve a slightly warmer more dynamic take on the EW200 sound. Unlike how the pure silver cable leans out the bass end. The pure copper variant enhances it. If you love the bass end of the EW200 and want to focus its sound characteristics toward a fuller body of note for its mids and bass. A pure copper variety is what you should be using. If you are sensitive to treble notes and want the smoothest treble in the sound balancing of the EW200. It is the pure copper variety that you should be using on the EW200. There are differences in higher end copper and lower end copper but for now I will assume you plan on getting relatively cheaper copper cable to pair with the EW200. Both Xinhs and NiceHCK sell a big variety of the copper cable and just about all of them will focus the sound profile toward the mids and bass and not as much for its trebles. If you prefer warmth and a dynamic sound character over detail and brightness. Go for a pure copper type cable.

Last but not least the Effect Audios Cadmus FE. Yes I am pairing a $1000 cable to a $40 IEM. Why not!
The question is does a $1,000 cable make a $40 sound like a $1,040 IEM? Nope! But you know what, this Effect Audio cable makes the EW200 sound better than anything I have ever heard in the $40 easily and will be equivalent to any of the better $200 level IEMs. Not really worth investing $1000 for a $40 IEM but since I had a set on hand. It was worth trying. If your asking me what the difference is between a $49 cable and the $1000 EA Cadmus FE. Pretty substantial differences actually. There are much more exotic materials that warrant the cost of the Cadmus FE. Gold, silver and a very high end UPOCC copper cores.
Sound expands to a stage that I would have loved to hear in its base form. The FE Cadmus brings a detail level that is much more what you hear for IEMs that cost 4X as much. It enhances more than its technical ability. Better sound separation, imaging and details but also enhances its tonal character to be richer due to the gold content of the Founders Edition.
Don’t ever buy a $1000 cable for a $40 IEM. Thats just plain stupid. But hey I am just showing you what is possible. Lol.

General/Build/Comfort/Packaging
Simgot used to fly under the radar and not known to many, but ever since the release of EA500, the brand has been on fire and churning out several products targeted at various price points. I have tested the EA500 and EW100P, both which I have had good experiences with given the asking price. EW200 is with me today and I'm here to test it out to see if it will follow the footsteps of its “brothers” which are favoured by most.
Packaging is the usual Simgot’s style, fancy and premium ish looking, build quality is solid, the whole iem is metal in mirror finish, which has its pros and cons in which i’m sure most readers will be aware by now, premium looking vs fingerprint magnet.
The shell does not have any hard edges which causes discomfort, it does have some weight to it due to all metal, but once they’re in your ears, the weight kind of just disappears. I don’t feel any discomfort throughout my listening session with it, the cable is also soft and doesn’t tangle up easily.

Gears used for this review

• Earmen Angel Dac/Amp
• Earmen ST-Amp
• Hiby FC6
• Sony WM1A
• Simgot EW200 stock cable and eartips

Foreword
My review is solely based on what I hear via my equipment and I never consider my reviews to be objective in any way rather a subjective approach. Do take into consideration that everyone’s ear anatomy is not the same, so the psychoacoustics perception might be different as well, but i believe it will not stray too far



Sound Impression
EW200’s tonality lies between slightly bright and neutral to my ears. Timbre sounds natural to my ears. They’re very engaging and lively, Note weight however is slightly lacking body, so it doesn’t sound full in my opinion, also, it is certainly not a set where you want to put it into your ears when you want to chill. Let’s take a look at the breakdown below:

Bass

• Sub bass does rumble when the track calls for it, not bass head kind of rumble since it lacks a little extension, it is still good enough for me to say its fun
• Mid bass is slightly lacking in terms of punchiness
• Speed however is good, Metallica’s Lux Aeterna speed drumming part was handled flawlessly without sounding smeared or bloated
• It doesn’t bleed into the mids

Mids

• Mids are slightly forward but not to the point where it’s in your face
• No bass bleed as mentioned earlier
• Male and female vocal has good texture to it, somehow female’s vocal sounds a little sweeter probably due to the slight upper mids emphasis
• The upper mids’s gain are still within safe range to my ears, YMMV depending on your tolerance/sensitivity

Treble

• Treble is very lively and engaging
• Detail retrieval is good for the asking price
• Plenty of energy but never harsh nor sibilant
• Good amount of air and sparkles
• It’s really rare to see such good tuning at this price point

Soundstage/Imaging

• Very spacious sounding and sounds out of your head
• Good width, height and depth perception
• Imaging is very good for the asking price, instruments can be pinpointed easily, good separation and layering capability

Driveability

• EW200 is very easy to drive and it does scale with better source
• It doesn’t really benefit much from amping based on my listening experience
• Pairing it with a warmer source will give the overall sound a bit more “body” as the EW200 is quite a technical set

Comparison (Moondrop LAN)

• In terms of fit and comfort, both are more or less on bar except for build quality, which the EW200 edges out the LAN (more premium looking build on the EW200)
• Tonality wise, LAN is leaning towards the warmer side of spectrum whereas EW200 is slightly on the cool side (more body vs lesser), not exactly a bad thing but more on preference as some might prefer a warm and thicker sound whereas some goes after cool and clinical sound
• Technicalities wise, EW200 pulls itself ahead of LAN in terms of better detail retrieval, imaging, and soundstage capability
• Timbre on both sounds natural to my ears
• LAN has smooth and non offensive treble response, EW200 on the other hand has treble that has quite a bit of energy but not harsh

Final Thoughts
Simgot really surprised us with each of their releases, those that I have tested, the EA500, EW100p and the one I have with me today, EW200, all surpassed the expectation punches above the price point in my opinion. They definitely deserve the hype. EW200 is a very strong technical performer with good tonality, albeit the treble might be too energetic for some who are sensitive to it, for those who aren’t, they’re definitely a keeper. Highly recommended!

Big thanks to Simgot and Linsoul for sending this over for the purpose of this review. If you are interested in getting a pair, head over to the store link below to get one(Non affiliated)

Simgot EW200 - Non affiliated
Simgot EW200 Linsoul - Non affiliated

Review OF The Simgot EW200​

Introduction​

If my memory serves me correctly, Simgot is a well-known company that has been active in this market for a very long time. They have produced a large number of IEMs that were popular at the time. The EA500 and EW100P in particular, which were adored by many audiophiles like me and raised their status in this community, have been making waves for this China-based company recently. And they're not finished yet; they recently released another one of their products, the Simgot EW200. Today I'll be reviewing these IEMs, but first I'd like to clarify a few things.

Disclaimer​

*Since this unit tour was organised by the kindly people at Linsoul, I am grateful to them. And as I've said in all of my evaluations, the same is true for this one: all of the concepts I've expressed below are entirely my own, original ideas that haven't been influenced by anyone else. If interested, go to this link.
*I am not associated with the connection, and I receive no financial assistance from anyone.
*For the remainder of the review, I will refer to these IEMs as "EW200."
*I am using different Ear-tips for convenience and better versatility.
*Finally, I will only evaluate the EW200 based on their performance, even though I will explain how it feels and seems physically and aesthetically.

Specification​

The dynamic driver inside the EW200 is a 10mm dual cavity SCP (Silicon Crystal Diaphragm) driver created by fusing the best qualities of the DLC and LCP diaphragms. With the exception of the metal body, which makes it slightly heavier than the EW100P, the shells are almost identical to those of the EW100P. Even after extended listening sessions, the shells are still comfortable to wear and don't make you feel tired. The included IEM cable is an OFC silver-plated cable with a detachable 0.78mm 2-pin design and a 3.5mm L-shaped plug. Three different sizes of eartips and a carrying pouch are included as additional accessories in addition to the cable and the IEM. In terms of the technical specifications, the sensitivity is 126dB, and the impedance is 16 Ohms. The range of the frequency response is 20Hz to 20kHz.

Sound​

Except for the bass presentation, the EW200's audio is largely influenced by that of its larger brother, the EA500. Because the drivers used in the EA500 are higher quality and sound better, as one might expect, the quality of how it is perceived is a little different. Whether it is the treble region or the mid range, the majority of it sounds exactly the same as the EA500. The vocals might not be as open and the treble might not sound as expansive or airy as the EA500, but it still maintains its position and SIMGOT E series DNA. I adore how it almost sounds like the EA500 while also producing a different signature, as if the EA500 were tuned differently, with the midrange being a little more expressive and the bass being more emphasized in the subbass. Even though I should have mentioned that the sound is more akin to that of the EW100P, the presentation of what I hear is more in line with the EA500's signature. Let's explore sound more thoroughly.

Treble​

Although it can't compete with products like KZ PR2, the treble region is broad and has an open sound. However, if I were to compare smoothness, I'd say the EW200 is superior. The problem is that even with such a nice expressive presentation, the upper treble still sounded more rounded, tonally cleaner, and accurate overall. Of course, the details are inferior to those of the PR2 or the EA500, but the engagement is maintained. In order to maintain a more organic sound, the upper treble concentrates on the energy and tonal qualities of the notes. The answer is not as thorough as one might think because the KZ PR2 is another somewhat-beautiful creature that exists. However, the tonal balance is still carefully controlled. The vocals and the instruments are loud and stretch out without becoming distorted or inferior. The vocals and instruments of the EW200 sounded more tonally richer and clean sounding, whereas the lower treble shared great energy with the EA500 but sounded more open and lively. Overall, the presentation of the treble region is slick, tidy, and thorough.

Mid Range​

When I compared the EW200 and the EA500, the midrange felt almost identical to the treble range; in fact, the presentation of the midrange sounds similar with a few minor tweaks, which enables the EA500 to have superior sound quality. In comparison to EA500, the upper midrange still sounds less lively and clear. In response, the vocals and the instruments sound cleaner and softer tonally. When compared to EA50 or PR2, the upper mid range gives off a less open and free-sounding impression, but I still believe that people will respond more favorably to it. The lower mid range has a rich, weighty sound that is exactly how I like it; it is neither blunt nor oblique. While laying the groundwork for the higher frequencies to sound tonally better with a non-offensive sound, the presentation keeps the note weight and density at a point where it sounds warm and bold. The signature seizes your attention and allows you to unwind with pleasant memories as you rewrite them over while switching tracks repeatedly. Because of this, I think the mid range's overall performance is alluring, natural, and enjoyable to listen to.

Bass​

The sub bass goes deep enough, and the mid bass keeps enough warmth to sound organic. The response to the bass is similar to others that promise the same frequency response. The bass creates a quality that is more dynamic, mature, and natural-feeling. Only PR2 has produced a texture that, for the price, is superior to that of other market competitors in terms of texture and quality. However, the richer, fuller sound makes EW200 sound more plausible. The emphasis is on the sub bass region, and I like how the bass is clearly audible. The presence of the mid bass is sufficient to bring out the slamming and thumpy qualities in the mix. Great punches are introduced by the sub bass, but I still think they are presented more subtly. But the bass feels alive and fantastic when there are slams and thump, almost like the EA500. It sounds better and more convincing than the bass of the PR2 because of its naturalistic vibe, but the EW200 lacks the texture and details. The bass guitar or drums produce an organic, much more boomy sound. Overall, I believe the bass region sounds thicker, warmer, and more organic overall.

Technical Performance​

When it comes to technical performance, it is not on par with what I typically hear from IEMs of a similar price range. Comparing the EW200 and EA500 is unfair because the EW200 sounds better tonally while maintaining its level of technical performance. However, in my opinion, the EW200 will be closer to what the majority of audiophiles desire. Whether the stage is large or the distance is reasonable for the price. So let's get into more detail.

Soundstage, Sound Imaging & Separation​

The separation tells the same story because even though the elements are distant they aren't very distinct, and yet I can adequately pinpoint where the sound is coming from. The sound stage is really good because it foreshows how wide the sound is, but confuses with the depth or how far the sound is, which makes more of a small stage experience. Although the imaging could have been sharper and better, it is clean.

Speed & Resolution​

To sum up, it is decent for the price but the details are not as expressive as I had anticipated. As the resolvability is not very fast paced, the attack and decay of notes are also not very resolving.

Sound Impressions​

Sources​

Tempotec V6 - The sound was better when paired with the V6 because the details were easier to hear and the treble felt more lively. While maintaining the same essence of the notes, the bass felt a little weak and the mid range sounded less forward and more open. The other elements felt the same even though the stage was bigger and the imaging was clearer. The pairing with the V6 was fantastic.



iFi Hipdac - Although the trebles remained clear and detailed, the midrange had the same energy but was more expressive, and the bass was a little bloated but the impacts were more fruitful when used in conjunction with the Hipdac. The sound was more tonally leaned as it became more rounded and closer. Apart from the stage, I didn't notice any other significant changes in terms of technical aspects. Along with the hipdac, I enjoyed pairing.

Tracks Used​

Luna Haruna - Glory days
Luna Haruna - Overfly
Rokudenashi - The Flame of Love
LMYK - 0 (zero)
ORESKABAND - Jitensya
Marina Horiuchi - Mizukagami no Sekai
RADWIMPS - Suzume
Indila - Love Story
Indila - Tourner dans le vide
Earth, Wind & Fire - September
Tom Petty - Free Fallin'
Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Blue Oyester Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper
Guns 'N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
The Police - Every Breath You Take
Gojira - Amazonia
TV on the radio - Wolf Like Me
Bring Me To The Horizon - Can You Feel My Heart
Bring Me To The Horizon - sTraNgeRs
Avril Lavigne - Dare To Love Me
Travis - Love Will Come Through
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know
DJ Shadows - Six Days (Remix) [feat. Mos Def]
Lady Gaga - Just Dance
Lil Wayne - Lollipop
Flo Rida - Low
Sebastian Lopez & Flug - Electronic Measures
Federico Mecozzi - Blue (Da Ba Dee)
Wayve - Not Enough
Kai Wachi & TeZATalks - Ghost
NGHTMRE, Zeds Dead & Tori Levett - Shady Intentions
Zeds Dead, DNMO & GG Magree - Save My Grave
Skrillex, Noisia, josh pan & Dylan Brady - Supersonic
Skrillex & Nai Barghouti - Xena
Skrillex, Missy Elliott & Mr. Oizo - RATATA
Kaifi Khalil, Eva B & Wahab Bugti - Kana Yaari
A.R. Rahman, Javed Ali & Mohit Chauhan - Kun Faya Kun

Conclusion​

In order to wrap up this review, I must say that the EW200 does sound similar to the EA500. Those looking to purchase a more reasonably priced IEM that emulates the SIMGOT in-house sound can easily opt for the EW200, which I wholeheartedly endorse. With the exception of the fact that there are tougher competitors on the market for the same price, such as the Kz PR2, I have absolutely no complaints about the price at which these are offered. However, it ultimately depends on what tuning you like. However, I can at least propose a trial before making a choice.

DISCLAIMER

I would like to thank Fia from Simgot for providing this review unit. The Simgot EW200 can be gotten here (no affiliate links): https://www.linsoul.com/products/simgot-ew200 or https://aliexpress.com/item/1005005653010223.html




SPECIFICATIONS

• Driver configuration: 10 mm dual-magnetic dual-cavity dynamic driver with silicon crystal diaphragm
• Impedance: 16 Ohms
• Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
• Sensitivity: 126 dB/Vrms
• Cable: 2-pin 0.78 mm; silver-plated OFC cable
• Tested at $39.99 USD

ACCESSORIES

Apart from the IEM, these are included:
- 3 pairs of silicone eartips (S/M/L)
- Cable
- Draw-string pouch

For a sub-$50 USD set, the accessories are par for the course.

Only one type of silicone eartips are included, with no option for foam tips or other silicone variants. Thankfully, these stock tips are serviceable from a comfort and sonic point of view.

A velvet draw-string pouch is also added, though it may not be robust enough to withstand compressive or traumatic forces.



The stock cable is of surprisingly high quality. Fashioned from silver-plated OFC wire, this cable is well braided, and of sufficient thickness. It is pretty tangle-free with minimal microphonics. There's an added chin cinch for grip, and the sides are easily identified with a blue and red dot on the distal ends (to mark them as the left and right sides, as per usual convention).

In this day and age when some sub $50 sets still come with non-detachable cables - which may be a potential point of failure - it is nice to see Simgot incorporate a 2-pin option, as MMCX connectors at the budget segment tend to be weaker when it comes to frequent cable swaps.

The rest of this review was done with the stock cable and stock tips. No aftermarket accessories were used, so as not to add any confounders to the sound.


BUILD/COMFORT

Manufactured from metal, the housings utilize high-density alloy-casting and precision-machining. Thus, an end product of an elegant and exquisite mirror-like finish is here to greet the consumer. The shells are a real looker, though they can end up as finger-print or scratch magnets, so do baby them with care!

The shells are light and ergonomic, with smooth inner aspects. I faced no comfort issues despite using them for hours for testing. Each earpiece has a L and R lettering once again, to identify the sides.



I did encounter instances of driver flex with the stock tips, though driver flex is partially dependent on individual ear anatomy and eartip type, so no harm exploring tip-rolling if you have some spare aftermarket tips lying about.

Isolation is bang average, which isn't surprising in a vented single DD like the EW200; nevertheless, this IEM is still usable outdoors.




DRIVABILITY

I tested the Simgot EW200 with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Cayin RU7
- Colorfly CDA M1 DAC/AMP dongle
- Creative Sound Blaster X5
- E1DA DAC/AMP dongle
- Hiby R3 Pro Saber 2022 DAP
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Khadas Tone Board -> Topping L30 amp
- Questyle M15 DAC/AMP dongle
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One Neutral Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW WM1A DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Smartphone

The EW200 is a very easy IEM to drive; it can be driven off the weakest of sources, which is something that lay-consumers without a monster source might appreciate. Having said that, the EW200 does scale with amplification. As the EW200's note weight lies on the thinner side, it synergizes better with analoguish or warmer sources, to add some heft to the music.


INTERNALS

The EW200 utilizes a 10 mm dual-magnetic dual-cavity dynamic driver with a silicon crystal diaphragm. Paired with N52 magnets, this diaphragm apparently integrates a unique polymer substrate that is coated with a hybrid silicon layer through dual-sided vapor deposition.


SOUND & TECHNICALITIES

Graph of the Simgot EW200 via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler artefact peak.

Tonally, the EW200 is a quintessential Harman-tuned IEM, following this consumer-friendly curve quite closely. This Harmanish signature promises to be quite an all-rounder pairing with most music genres, perhaps other than for dyed-in-the-wool bassheads.

In fact, the EW200 has an almost identical tonality to the venerable Tanchjim Oxygen (though similar graphs DO NOT fully tell us about technicalities and timbral accuracy):

Graph of the Simgot EW200 versus Tanchjim Oxygen via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler artefact peak.


The EW200 has bass that is just a hair north of neutral, so bassheads best look elsewhere. Sub-bass has only a slight tickle on bass-laden tracks. Where the EW200 cedes in quantity, it makes it up in bass quality. The EW200 furnishes above average texturing, with a fast and clean bass with no mid-bass bleed. Bass speed is decently fast and the EW200 keeps up easily with complex bass tracks.

The lower midrange is a tinge recessed, but is very transparent and clear without a big bass to eat into this frequency band. On the flip side, with a thinner note weight, arguably the midrange is a tinge thin, and there isn't much bulk to vocals at times. Nevertheless, this nitpick can probably be addressed with tip or source rolling (eg warmer or analoguish source).

With an 8 - 9ish dB ear gain in the upper midrange, vocals are in front of the music. As per the Fletcher Munson curve, at low to moderate volume levels, the upper mids are at the border of being forwards without veering to overt shoutiness. However, at higher volume levels, this region may be a bit harsh, so the EW200 is best operated at moderate levels.

The lower treble continues on from this upper mids boost, and the EW200 has excellent treble extension, bringing nice air and sparkle to the table. Trebleheads will like this tuning, with great resolution and clarity heard. There are some instances of sibilance, though cymbals and high-hats are surprisingly not splashy.

In keeping with its single DD roots, the EW200 has a very organic timbral accuracy for acoustic instruments. Woodwinds have a nice aerophonic trail behind notes, brasses have a metallic overtone, with strings having sufficient richness on being bowed.

In the technicalities department, the EW200 is one of the most resolving budget single DDs below $50 USD. Clarity, instrument separation, micro-details and imaging are very well portrayed, and it may even beat some higher-priced sets under $100 in this area. Unfortunately, soundstage is quite average in width (though depth and height are decent), but the excellent imaging allows makes up for this.


COMPARISONS



Comparisons were made with other budget single DDs around $50 USD and below. Planars, hybrids and pure BA types were left out of the equation, as the different transducers have their pros and cons.

I've added the big brother EA500 ($79 USD) inside the comparisons segment, as some folks will surely ask how does the younger sibling stack up against it.

Additionally - this is not a fair comparison considering the different price brackets these 2 reside in - but just to get it out of the way, even though the EW200 shares a similar graph to the legendary Tanchjim Oxygen, the Oxygen is more refined, with superior timbre and technicalities. However, considering the Oxygen costs 6 - 7x more than the EW200, the former is perhaps not even 2 - 3x better, so diminishing returns hit hard the deeper you go down the rabbithole.


Simgot EA500

Graph of the Simgot EW200 versus EA500 (black and red tuning nozzles) via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler artefact peak.

The EA500 is one of the benchmark budget single DDs of 2023. It has 2 tuning nozzles to vary the sonics slightly, with the red nozzle giving a Harmanish signature, while the black one provides a cold neutral bright tone. The EA500 is more versatile as such.

With the red nozzle installed on the EA500, the EA500 has superior soundstage and is more spacious, with better layering and instrument separation. Micro-details are about on par, though the EW200 younger brother has better edge definition.

The EA500 has a thicker note weight and a more natural timbre, in addition to better accessories.


BLON x HBB Z300

The BLON Z300 is much darker in the treble, with bigger bass on tap. The Z300's bass however, is quite bloated, with massive mid-bass bleed and a lack of texture and separation. The Z300 has a lack of air and sparkle, though it is smoother in the upper midrange.

The Z300 has slightly better timbre, though it is a few leagues behind the EW200 when it comes to technicalities. Other than soundstage, the Z300 is spanked in imaging, instrument separation, micro-details and clarity.


Kiwi Ears Cadenza

The Kiwi Ears Cadenza has a slightly thicker note weight, with more bass and lesser upper mids/treble. The Cadenza's bass is slower and not as tight.

Both sets have good timbre, thought the Cadenza is inferior in micro-details, imaging, instrument separation and clarity. The Cadenza has a more expansive soundstage though.


Fiio FD11

The FD11 is a V-shaped set with much larger bass on offer - the FD11 is more fun-sounding as such - though the bass bleeds and isn't as tight. The FD11 has a thicker note weight and a less zealous upper midrange.

The FD11 has superior soundstage, though it is slightly weaker in imaging, micro-detailing and instrument separation.

Do note that the FD11 does hiss with some sources with a poor noise floor control, and it has a proprietary 2-pin housing, which limits aftermarket cable pairing.

CONCLUSIONS

The EW200 is a really competitive Harmanish single DD, sharing a similar tonality to the much-vaunted Tanchjim Oxygen. In addition to this consumer-friendly tuning, it is one of the most resolving single DDs under 50 bucks, with notable technical chops and superb air and sparkle for trebleheads. Timbre is also a standout.

The shells are really alluring, with a polished mirror-like finish adding much grace and aesthetics. However, do take care of these puppies, as there is a possibility of the faceplates ending up smudged or scratched.

Comfort and build are impeccable, and the EW200 is also easily driven from the weakest of sources, which may be a boon for non-audiophiles with just a phone.



Other than some mild driver flex, the EW200 may not be the best option for bassheads, or for those searching for a sedate and laid back listen. The midrange lies on the thinner side too, though pairing the EW200 with a warmer or analoguish source may mitigate this. As per some Harmanish sets, the upper mids may be a bit too forwards for some, especially at louder volumes.

By and large, when playing the EW200 at low to moderate volumes, this shouldn't be an issue, and this IEM blends the 3Ts of tonality, timbre and technicalities nicely into a refined and dazzling shell. Verily, the EW200 does most areas well, and I'm glad to recommend it as one of the stand-out budget single DDs under $50 USD in 2023.

MY REVIEW AND SHOOTOUT BETWEEN SOME OTHER CONTENDERS.

SHOOTOUT

SIMGOT EW200 $39.99 vs
BLON HBB Z300 $35.99 vs
TRUTHEAR ZERO RED $54.99 vs
KIWIEARS CADENZA $34.99

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS:

EW200 –

The EW200 needs less than half the power of the other 3 making it the best choice for mobile use,

The overall tuning lends itself to a safe all-rounder and the most likely to pick up on a daily basis.

The EW200 has the best BASS not only in quantity but in quality and clearly shows the quality of drivers.

The EW200 also had the best upper mids and highs and that also comes out in its ability to present image placement and instrument separation and details clearly ahead of the other 3 in comparison.

BLON Z300 –

When I first reviewed this IEM my thoughts were the Z300 was a better more refined Cadenza, I still think that but overall I still prefer the Cadenza. The Z300 is the most laid back set out of the bunch.

KIWIEARS CADENZA –

While maybe not as refined as the Z300 , I believe it still uses a nicer driver and the bass is snappier and more refined with that distinct Beryllium driver. Easy my second choice in the group for value and overall tuning. There was a reason I thought the Cadenza was the best value under $40 in 2022 and now that has been Un Crowned by the EW200.

TRUTHEAR ZERO RED – I think this set was the most organic, most balanced and natural sounding of all the compared sets.

I was worried to throw this one the mix, Just because of the price factor differential between the other sets but I’m glad I did. Why was that? Because I got a chance to deep re-listen to this one and really appreciate what it does over the other three in a different way. I think the price difference between the other sets and the RED is worth the step up as a upgrade if you were looking for something different tuning wise. Where I see the Z300, Cadenza and the EW200 competing directly with each other.

The Zero Red is a different kind of tuning as well so I’m not sure if it directly competes with the other three and its price knocked it out of the Price to performance equation so its nice to see how a less expensive sets stacks up.

The RED has the deepest blackest contrast between the music and the background noise. It is more than noticeable and quite lovely making it the set I would pick up for a RESET SET or balanced option.

The stage for me beats out the EW200 by a hair. The Zero Red’s overall playback didn’t flinch at anything I threw at them. The Zero Red trade’s blows with the EW200 but done differently both were my favorite’s to listen to in this shootout.

HOW I WOULD RANK THE 4 IEM SETS TOGETHER IN THIS COMPARISON:

EW200 Z300 ZERO RED CADENZA

OVERALL TONALITY #2 #4 #1 #3
BASS QUALITY #1 #4 #3 #2
BASS QUANTITY #1 #2 #4 #2
LOWER MIDS & VOCALS #2 #4 #1 #3
UPPER MIDS & VOCALS #1 #4 #2 #3
MALE VOCALS #3 #4 #2 #1
FEMALE VOCALS #1 #4 #2 #3
TREBLE #1 #2 #3 #4
EXTENSION & AIR #1 #4 #2 #3
STAGE #2 #4 #1 #3
INSTRUMENT PLACEMENT #1 #4 #2 #3
INSTRUMENT TONALITY #2 #4 #1 #3
OVERALL VALUE $/SOUND #1 #3 #2 #4

AVERAGE SCORE: IF I ADD UP THE OVERALL AND GET AN AVERAGE 13/ TOTAL = % OVERALL WIN
EW200 19 = 68% Z300 47 = 28% ZERO RED 26 = 50% CADENZA 37 = 35%

The most likely to pick the IEM for:
On The Move: EW200
Chill Session: ZERO RED
Loud Jam Out Session: EW200/Cadenza TIE depends on my mood and genre.
Articulate Detail Listen: EW200
Best All-Rounder: EW200
Most likely to pick up over the others: EW200

TRACK IMPRESSIONS: Not Overall sounds impressions just what I thought the IEM presented this track like:

I RANDOMLY PICKED SOME TRACKS FROM MY TEST PLAYLIST, PLAYBACK TWICE FROM TWO SOURCES:

• GESHELLI AKM 9949 J2 DAC , TOPPING A90D BALANCED 4.4 PENTACONN
• HIBY R6III BAL 4,4 OUT WITH iFi IEMATCH PENTACONN ADAPTER.

#1. “Fluid” by Yosi Horikawa – On this track by this talented Japanese Producer there are intricate builds of rhythms usings both sounds of nature and everyday sounds in the music.

• The EW200 was the clear winner here, stage, instrument separation and dynamics were clearly above the other 3 and the bass absolutely slams!
• The Zero Red had the smoothest replay, the most balanced overall playback but what really stood out on the Red was the blackest background noticeable and definitely the easiest to listen to.
• Z300 Here I Thought was outclassed except for the Cadenza the playback was a smooth listen really nice highs but needed less bloat in the mid bass I thought.
• Cadenza Clearly outclassed in this track by all others Just not the kind of playback made for this IEM.

#2 “Take Me To Church” by Hozier – Here I am listening to male vocals.

• Hear my notes said – “Cadenza Natural Organic, Z300 cleaner more neutral nice weight, red most real natural sounding nicest timber, EW200 forward vocals crisp thin.”
• I think the winner for this track was clearly the zero red it was the only I am that got the reverb effect correct and played back this track with correct vocals and stage really well done.
• EW200 Was the most resolving the Cadenza was the second best for stage and the Z300 again was too thick and had too much bass bleed.

#3 “There She Goes.” By Six Pence None The Richer – Hear I am trying to listen to the female vocals and the bass lines.

• On my notes the Zero Red I had to say was the second best, but the smoothest replay,
• Z300 Nice vocals again smooth nice bass.
• Cadenza not as good as the zero or the Z300.
• EW 200 female vocals and instrumental as well as the balance with Correct weight the other three seem to be missing winner again.

#4 “Snowman” by SIA – Another outstanding female vocal track.

• EW200 energy in the upper mid that you can hear versus the others the bass is super nice and the best vocal replay out of all four IEM’s
• Red Extremely well balanced very well done excellent black background.
• Z300 Nice vocals loved the energy on this track nice highs definitely more refined than the Cadenza.
• Cadenza also had great vocals

#5 “Enter Sandman” by Youn Sun Nah – What an outstanding and unique female vocalist quite talented this song will bring out the nuances in her voice, the details of the track and the correct tonality of the instruments if the IEM has the resolution to do so.

• I think overall on this track they SIMGOT EW200 played this one back the best it had very well controlled highs and the most details.
• Z300 Instrumental sound it muted as did her voice not a very replay on this track.
• TruthEar Zero Red Vocals and instrumental sounded great again very smooth and this black background and the signal to noise ratio is very noticeable.
• Cadenza Better stage than the Z But the two actually trade blows very much on this track.

#6 “The Beautiful” by The Tea Party – Yeah I’m listening for rock I’m listening for male vocals and just overall playback at maybe a higher volume with some more high frequency energy.

• First off let’s start with the BLON Z300 here I saw it to playback was the most laid back I think rock works quite well for the Z.
• The Truthear came out second with better vocals than the Z300 but not by a lot where it differentiated itself was the great instrument separation and details.
• The Cadenza, I like it better over the Z300 vocals it sounded cleaner crisper, but the highs on the Z300 were better.
• EW200 Best stage, best vocals and the highs you could hear more details in this song where I thought the all the other three missed out on the nuances.

#7 “Give” by Nils Loftgren – In this track it’s exceptionally well recorded Male vocals, guitar and drums.

• EW200 again clear winner very clean female backup singers are perfectly toned.
• Zero Red here was the widest stage and overall best vocals.
• Cadenza Today’s was so tight I just love the Berri Bass better than the Z300 for sure.
• Z300 Nicer highs than the cadence and smoother as well.

CONCLUSION:

Was it pretty interesting comparison with this shootout. For some of these IEM’s I actually haven’t listened to in a while but I have kept these ones for a reason. I thought there was something about them that made me keep them they were special in their own way. Well maybe not so much the Z300 I kept that one more for its looks and just for comparison, as it was the only one in the group that has not wowed me in some way like the other ones have.

With the 10 ohm adapter or the iFi IEMATCH adapter all four have very similar baselines on a graph but this is where the similarities end as the texture the speed the decay all sound quite different from all four drivers.

The EW200 clearly stands as the winner in the bass category as not only in its texture, but the speed, decay, and overall quantity is outstanding, and lastly the sheer quantity from the sub bass to the mid bass is simply fun and not overpowering in the mix of have any muddiness or bloat. Truly outstanding BASS and is a noticeable difference over the other IEM’s you can clearly tell that the driver that’s used in this one is making use of a better materials. The Zero Red also is using fantastic drivers but they it’s tuned differently and it’s probably more special in its own way, something about how it can separate noise from the background and just play music, when you do these kinds of comparisons you can truly appreciate what they did with this one.

I think in this shootout the EW 200 is the clear winner.

I went into this with open mind and ears and came out with a clear conclusion that the SIMGOT has represented itself as the best value.

With the EW200’s overall tuning, its ability to be an all-rounder and the fact that it can be driven off of anything with very low power and sound extremely linear even when scaling up. Whereas the TruthEar Zero Red only truly shines with some serious power put to it and not everybody’s going to have that at their disposal, and it simply doesn’t play all genres like the EW200 does.

The Kiwiears Cadenza set for me was best value under $50 IEM in 2022 where I now think it has been uncrowned and the SIMGOT EW200 for me represents the king in the budget category under $50 in 2023.


OVERALL THOUGHTS:
While I originally wrote this as notes for a shootout video:

A supplement to my original video here:

I think the SIMGOT EW200 is a banger, a real winner again in continuation of their latest releases. The EA500 some thought was a tad bright and lacked a bit of sub bass focus- the EW200 fixed all of that and more.
The EW200 is a well rounded IEM , suited to all genre and can be driven off of anything making it a easy RECOMMENDATION.

Video review here:

Disclaimer:

• I don’t read and read FR graphs. I only use my ears, as how earphones should be used.
• Simgot sent this unit to me in an exchange for an honest, unbiased review. Rest assured that this review will do its best to devoid from any bias/es as much as possible.
• The following remarks and observations shall be made and owned only by me.
• No monetary compensation is/was involved before, during, and after the period of creation of this review.
• Your mileage may (and always, will) vary.

Burn-in time: 4-8 hours per day, 5 days.

Source/s used:

• Hiby R3 Pro Saber
• Fosi Audio DS1
• Non-HiFi smartphone (Infinix Note 12 G96), PC.
• Local Files via Foobar, YouTube Music, Deezer, and Qobuz with UAPP.

IEM/Earbud/Setup configuration: stock large eartips, any form of EQ or MSEB off, 3.5 SE plug, 40-60% volume, low gain and high gain.


Sound signature:

• In a nutshell, the Simgot EW200 is a balanced or mild-U-shaped sounding IEM. What makes this IEM stand out among the other IEMs under the 50 USD category is it managed to balance tonal and technical performance so well that it never sounded “lacking” most of the time.

Lows:

• The lows are moderately elevated, rich, full, and textured. Both midbass and sub bass seem to exhibit a good amount of quantity with a bit of subbass dominance. Decay and attack is also within the average-above average realm, resulting in a clean yet non-lacking presentation. This is by no means a bass-centric, basshead IEM, but it caters most bassy and even bass heavy IEMs while never sounding lacking or muted during my tests.

Mids:

• Despite not being a midcentric IEM, the EW200’s mids is the highlight of this IEM to me, along with its technicalities (more into that later). The mids managed to sound musical and technical at the same time. Call it “natural”, if you may. It is open, engaging, and never sounded drowned or muted at all. Lower mids exhibit good depth, thickness and texture, while the upper mids are slightly elevated while being clear, airy and sparkly at the same time. There aren’t any harshness or sibilance encountered in this IEM, but I would still like to give a friendly reminder to those people who are sensitive to elevated upper frequencies that they may find this IEM “bright” on some occasions.

Highs:

• The highs are elevated but well tuned enough to avoid any form of harshness, pierce and peaks. It is airy and renders higher notes very well. Detail retrieval is average-above-average as it renders most details easily.

Soundstage, Imaging, and separation:

• For under 50 USD, the technical performance that the EW200 offers is quite insane, in my opinion. The soundstage is wide with a really good amount of height and depth, making this sound quite “immersive”. Separation and layering is average-above average and will handle busy tracks fairly easily. Imaging is precise and definitely can render accurate vocal and instrumental positions.

Comparisons!

VS Simgot EA500

• The Simgot EA500 is a brighter, more bass-light set when compared to the EW200. The key difference between the two is that the EA500 has a replaceable tuning nozzle and will definitely affect the sound (but for this comparison we’ll go with the black nozzle filters). With the black nozzle filter on the EA500, the EA500 sounds more neutral, bright, and excels more on the layering and separation, but the EW200 excels more on the soundstage, width, height, and depth. To my surprise, the EW200’s hurdle that is holding it back to sound exactly like the EA500 is that the EA500 is more refined and cleaner than the latter. Nevertheless, both IEMs are really good performers for their respective prices.

VS Celest Pandamon

• The Pandamon is still one of my favorite sets under 100 USD and still shows that it isn’t that left behind when compared to the EW200. The Pandamon aims for a more “balanced”, controlled, bodied approach while the EW200 aims for a more lively, airy, open sound. Hearing the Pandamon and EW200 side-by-side showed that the Pandamon lacked air and treble extension but not to the point that it sounded muted. It just lacks treble extension compared to the EW200 in terms of “openness”. The Pandamon slightly excels on the separation and layering. Both scales well with different sources. Both are very good choices, you just have to pick what you prefer.

VS KZ X HBB PR2 (V1, with Black Mesh)

• The PR2 is harder to drive since it is a planar IEM and leans to a more “fun yet controlled” sound and may sometimes come across “too clean”. The EW200 is like that but less controlled in a good way, keeping things “alive”. Mids are definitely more open and engaging on the EW200. The PR2 excels on the layering but the EW200 isn’t that far and is still very competent when compared to a planar.

VS TRN TA4

• Both are technically capable IEMs, but the EW200 isn’t that far in terms of quality. The only thing that is apart is their respective prices, which means that the EW200 has better value. It also does not have the BA Timbre that the TA4 has.

VS KZ D-Fi (DDDU config)

• The D-Fi aims for a more neutral and a tad bit brighter approach while the EW200 maintains its tonal and technical balance. The EW200 also has better overall technicalities than the D-Fi when compared.

VS Moondrop Aria, Aria SE, Chu, LAN, Starfield

• In a nutshell, all of these IEMs are inspired by the Harman Target - but the Simgot EW200 does things better by balancing both technical and tonal performance for its price while not sounding mellow, intimate, and haywired on busy tracks like the latter.

Pros:

• The current “best” IEM under 50 USD IEM I have heard recently (highly subjective).
• Has the best balanced tonal and technical performance under 50 USD.
• Almost-harman-sounding IEM but improved to sound better than the usual.
• All-rounder, versatile sound signature.
• Controlled, detailed yet non-lacking bass.
• Open, airy, detailed mids.
• Non-fatiguing upper frequencies.
• Very good, above-average technicalities for its price.
• Insane stage height and depth in its caliber.
• Very good build quality. Metal IEM shells!
• Excellent fit, comfort and isolation.
• Very good cable quality.
• Easy to be driven to its full potential.
• Scales well to different sources.

Cons:

• Eartips might not fit well to most people’s ears. (subjective).
• IEM shells are smudge, scratch, and fingerprint magnet.

================================================================================================================

The current state of Simgot’s target house sound proves that any company can still live by the book while improving what needs to be improved to stand out. Followed by the EA500’s hype train, the Simgot EW200 also deserves the hype if it will be hyped, due to its outstanding tonal and technical performance under 50 USD, in my own humble opinion. I can even say that this IEM can be a no-brainer recommendation for those people who just wants an IEM that just sounds good and great under 50 USD. As what some of my friends say, “Simgoat” indeed! Keep ‘em rolling!


Pairing recommendation/s:

• Source: This sounds just fine when plugged straight to a phone, but is vastly better when used with a proper source.
• Eartips: The eartips did not fit my ears that deep, so it may differ to your ears. However, this does not affected the sound quality too much. You may still use your preferred eartips.
• Cable is really, really good. Probably the best stock cable of an IEM you can get with this price. You may still use your preferred cables.

Thank you for reading!
Non-affiliate link here: http://www.simgot.com/en/products/d...H_0vcA9cz9Peg1ubAKLUmsSuxj_Wm4FRnIyE5FSOKWYBE
Additional Photos Here:

TONALITY: 8.2/10
TECHNICALITIES: 9.2/10
CONSTRUCTION: 9/10
SOUND VALUE: 10/10
INTRO


Simgot is an experience earphones company from China that stand apart in term of craftmanship, acoustic tech and tuning quality. They get highly praise for their EA500 IEM, which is well deserve.

Today I will review their latest budget release, the EW200.

Priced 40$, the EW200 use a 10mm dynamic driver with as Simgot call it ''a revolutionary SPC diaphragm''.

This isn't all in term of acoustic tech, this driver use dual magnetic circuit and dual cavity too, promising flagship level performance....at entry level price.

Let see in this review if this is to good to be true.

Drivers Tech INFO:

''Flagship-level Dual-Magnetic-Circuit & Dual-Cavity Dynamic Driver


The EW200 earphones incorporate flagship-level technology in the form of a dual-magnetic-circuit and dual-cavity design, which offer exceptional acoustic performance and a powerful driver configuration. Unlike conventional dynamic driver earphones, the EW200's dual magnetic system uses both internal and external magnetic paths, which are strengthened by N52-grade magnets. This design greatly improves the dynamic range and transient response, resulting in a wider frequency range and a more immersive, detailed listening experience. You'll feel the impact and live presence of the music, as if you're attending a live performance.

Revolutionary SCP Diaphragm​

The EW200 utilizes a revolutionary diaphragm material - the SCP Diaphragm. This diaphragm incorporates a special polymer film as a substrate that is coated with a hybrid silicon layer through dual-sided sputtering deposition. By combining the strengths of DLC and LCP diaphragms, it maintains the high-density mid-range performance of LCP diaphragms and the extended, exquisite high-frequency response of DLC diaphragms. Additionally, it overcomes the challenges of high-frequency control and slight harshness found in some audio sources with a DLC diaphragm, resulting in a luxurious and smooth sound with rich layering and spaciousness. The diaphragm is further enhanced through specialized molding techniques and precise material blending, optimized to deliver a full and textured low-frequency response, a natural and dense mid-frequency performance, and a detailed and splendid high-frequency reproduction. With the powerful driving force of the dual magnetic circuit and dual cavities, the diaphragm and magnetic chamber achieve a harmonious balance, thus enhancing overall performance.''



CONSTRUCTION&ACCESSORIES
After

EW100P disapointment in term of basic plastic construction, i'm relieve to see back the Simgot all metal craftmanship i'm use to with their other IEMs like EA500, EN1000 and EA2000.This kind of elegant, sturdy and well built housing is even more exceptional under 50$. It feel invincible but perhaps prompt to micro scratch if mistreated, but the finish seem not too fragile unlike Moondrop Kato that is full of scratch after one day, this one isn't after 2 weeks of intense use.

So, it's more about finger prints magnet property that could annoy some very demanding consumer.The housing is made of 2 metal part, have a traingle goes oval shape and front part is protuberant like the EA500. 2pin connector a slightly recessed which is a plus and will match with any connector type apart the QDC. The metal is thick and have some weight, but their no sharp angle and the weight tend to go towards your ears, so the fit is even more secure and I find it quite comfortable too.



The included cable is surprinsgly good, it's a braided silver plated +OFC copper cable, but I would have appreciate the choice to get it 4.4mm balanced.



The packaging is minimal, which is very comprehensible with such IEM and cable quality. Accessories are kept to minimum too, we have a small carrying pouch and 3 pair of silicone eartips and that's it.

SOUND IMPRESSIONS



Ok, if you have read my last review about most entry level Simgot IEM call EW100P, you might know I wasn't a big fan and this was mostly due to 2 things: not very dynamic attack and well, a safe Harman target tuning with limited technical performance.…

Let's begin by saying EW200 solve all this and offer tremendous sound value jump to those that will spend 40$ for them. Not only in prime construction but excellent technical performance prowess that can be put in same league as bigger brother EA500, yet...but not with 100% exact same tonal balance so at they end EA500 still is my fav sub-100$ IEM here.

Simply put: EW200 is an edgier, crisper, more transparent and neutral sounding EA500. It's leaner in dynamic and brighter in timbre too, and the treble extend further.

EW200 aren't fun or bassy sounding IEM, it's serious, mature and refined. It's absolutely not something we could expect in this price range too, even if Kiwi Ears Cadenza have some similarity, the technical performance are from another league here.

The Bass is lean, with just a slight mid bass boost, minimal to get sens of punch when the track beg for it and already has boosted the acoustic or digital kick drum in the mix. It's clean and well separate with zero bleeding in to the mids. But as said, we can have minimal thumping when really needed, for example in IDMit's possible to have some punch but it will be in a thin way, not heavy nor very round kick.
The sub bass is there in a clean, well layered and extended way, the presence is very well extracted and permit to follow bass line layer quite easily. Yet, their no physicality to it, its a ''cerebral'' monitor like presentation. But in very busy track this permit to keep everything well resolve without adding a blur warmth that would affect definition and separation of multiple instrument.
Maestro of speed, timing, definition, the low end is well texture too with good bit but like with all simgot IEM apart the EA2000, kick drum presence isn't as textured as bass line.

If you like the mid range of Moondrop Aria or Kato, you will be in for alot of joy and wow with the EW200 since it's even better. Its crisp, edgy and very well resolved in definition of each instrument with a sens of transparency that could put to shame a lot of higher tier IEMs.
Nothing get lost in the mix and lot of instrument can cohabite in all their singular glory.
With the right ear tips, pinna gain of upper mids loudness can be smoothed, which benefit female vocal presence that is fowards and wide with superb transparency and rich realist texture that doesn't have imbalance in details or grain. It's not thick nor warm mid range and even slightly colder than EA500 but this is incredible for classical music lover, which will have their violin line fully restitute with an edgy attack bite that flow naturally. It's so clean that you can hear the piano note long decay behind the violin for example, which again is mind buggling for 40$.
The note weight is on the light side tough, we don't have extra meat to timbre and dynamic favor speed over impact.
Personally, this is high fidelity mid range to my ears, but not something that create alot of emotional response, it's beautifull like a diamond, not like a Van Gogh painting.

And then the treble, the master of the show, which you might expect to be dry looking at own Simgot graph but let me tell you it seem to extend way further than 10khz since it's one of those few Harman target IEM with proper sparkle and brilliance. Other one would be Aune Jasper which have even thinner highs and mid range.
EW200 is the kind of IEM that permit you to follow all percussions in a very detailled way, in that regard its perhaps 1 or 2 decibel too loud, so slight imbalance here but it do add air to treble and a sens of openess.
It's not splashy since this cymbals crash specific frequencies section is tamed a bit, the snap and metallic brilliance of percussions is more resonant than the attack sustain boosted.
Again, the Simgot shine with acoustic music from classical to jazz, listening to Adam Baldych Quintet is pure bliss that sure highlight the speed and control of attack which is just insane for the price, and i would have said this if priced 150$ too.
I hate writing hyper sentence like this but it's true, technical performance are excellent, the snap, the clean attack lead, the fully restitue resolution of acoustic bass, piano, violin, percussions is admirable with the Quintet stated above.
But some might find the treble a bit thin or would wish for even sharper snap. Ok, i'm unable to truely fault the high here, it's delicate and refined, very well extend, open and brilliant. I do think it will give lot of eargasm to treblehead as well as demanding audiophile.

And now the spatiality is above average too, but sit between EW100P and EA500 in that regard. It's a bit flat but with extreme transparency that had sens of deepness, its quite wide but not the tallest. It's open and airy but in a concentrated way. Center stage isn't that distant from you too.

But the imaging is certainly excellent if I praise resolution and definition of each instrument that much. I feel the sound layering is better perceive thant static separation in X axis of each instrument, but this is because mid range instrument is what populate the stage the most and they are all treated the same way. EW200 have a monitor like instrument separation, it's realist and intimate and very precise but you need to focus on center stage, while the percussions and highs might not be as accurate since it feel more stereo and wider in spacing...I rarely go wordy about imaging, which mean i'm very impress and fascinated by what EW200 offer in that regard. Yep, these are one of the few ''analytical harman tuned'' IEM i've ever heard. And i've heard alot of them to the point ive become very snobbish and demanding.

SIDE NOTES:

At 126db of sensitivity the EW200 are extremely easy to drive, too much so in the sens they can be sensitive with high gain. I use low gain with my Moondrop Dawn 4.4 since 4vrms-230mW is too much, even at low volume it make the sound more bright and agressive, and transparency is affected negatively while upper mids jump more at you.
About those upper mids, i dont suggest using wide bore ear tips since it will put them fowards and while it will make the mid bass a hint thicker, it will be less clean as a whole too.
Hum, so, like big boi mid tier IEM, the EW200 scale up with source quality more than amping power quantity. It's very transparent to source and recording too.


COMPARISONS



VS SIMGOT EW100P

Simply put the EW200 are edgier and more technical sounding EW100P. For plain timber lover, the EW100 is warmer and smoother, but this mean definition of instrument is more softed and creamy too.
The bass is just a hint more boosted with EW100, which warm lower mid range a bit more so it feel thicker as a whole but more muddy too. Sub and mid bass are darker and more mixed up with EW100P. The the mids are less energic and less edgy, less transparent and darker in resolution and leaner in dynamic as if bass swallow whole macro dynamic. Biggest difference is the treble which is more rolled off, dry and dark with the EW100P, while more open, airy, snappy and sparkly with the EW200 that deliver notably crisper resolution and higher level of micro details, we can perceive each percussions more easily. Technical performance of EW200 is from another league here, faster in attack so better layered, and then way wider, taller deeper soundstage. And then, this technical superiority is fully noticeable in superior imaging capacity of EW200, which is more precise and accurate and don't have compressed and darkenen layering.

All in all, the EW200 is intensely superior in technical performance, a bit like Moondrop Chu or SSP vs Kato in term of technical gap. But tonality is even brighter-louder in upper mids than the EW100, so if you expect less pinna gain to avoid any hearing fatigue as a upper mids sensitive listener, this will not be for you too.


VS SIMGOT EA500

EA500 (with red foam less tuning nozzle) is very similar and follow same harman target but in a slightly more V shape and punchy way than the cleaner crisper sounding EW200. Other aspect is the soundstage which is wider and taller with EA500, mids are just a hint warmer too but not in upper mids gain.
So timbre wise the EA500 is a bit thicker and more natural. Bass is rounder and punchier with more sustain in rumble but not as good layering, it's not as clean as leaner bass of EW200 which have less sub resonance warmth and blur to definition of bass line, but still kick drum isn't extremely detailed but just slightly more textured. It seem overall attack speed and control is better with EW200....which is quite surprising, but complex track are sharper in resolution and dont get this attack edge warmth addition which blur macro resolution and timing pace of attack of EA500.
The mids are more open, clean and detailed but a bit colder too as well as edgier, for timbre lover EA500 will be more pleasant due to tuning nozzle that can make them lusher mid range wise. This is another plus to take in account over EW200.
Then the treble is mostly the same apart one thing: we have more sparkle and decay as well as slightly more micro details richness, it feel cleaner and sharper in percussions definition and snap.
Soundstage is wider taller with EA500 but not as deep.
Imaging is more spacious in temr of instrument separation space being wider with EA500, but not as sharply define and not as transparent as EW200, which offer a monitor like positioning while its more a hall like open one for EA500.

All in all, if it wasn't for tuning nozzle that raise sound value of EA500 even more, i would say EW200 is the winner in that regard....but I can't say EA500 is technicaly superior since it's not as clean and detailed. Let just say EA500 is more dynamic sounding and offer even bigger soundstage....so at they end, i prefer vocal timbre of EA500 as well as mid bass punch but not the resolution and attack control, which is superior with EW200.

VS QOA GIMLET

Another sub-50$ beast, the Gimlet is warmer and more W shape. It's bassier but not as textured and well define in bass. The bass hit harder, is a more dense with air, rounded and rumblier with resonance.
It isn't as well separated, clean and well layered between mid and sub bass presence.
Mids are less detailed and edgy in definition, a hint thicker so male vocal seem fuller in body but definition edge of instrument is more blurry and softed. The treble is more colored and not as clean and lean in extension as EW200, it doesn't dig as much micro details but have similar brilliance and snap.
Soundstage seem notably wider and taller, but not as deep. Imaging is inferior and more foggy in separation.

All in all, Gimlet is more dynamic sounding and fun but not as well resolved nor as well controlled in attack, making the EW200 evidently superior in technical performance....which say alot since Gimlet is excellent for it's price range.


CONCLUSION



Ok, the chifi market is becoming near too crazy in term of sound value competitivity and when technical prowess meet tuning talent, we are somewhere else than KZ IEMS for sure and we can say that planar driver craze feel very overatted and well, primitive compared to such accomplished dynamic driver technology and performance.

Last time I was as much excited with a sub-50$ IEM is with the HZsound Mirror that I praise to the sky but I do enough IEMs comparisons for a 40$ IEM and if I decide to compare those 2, it will be on CHifi Love group so join the community!

The EW200 is a superior budget earphone in both construction and sound quality, it offer performance that can't be expected in this price bracket as well as a refined tuning that put too shame anything Moondrop under 200$.

The Simgot EW200 is my new sub-50$ benchmark in term of technical performance.

Then, the Harman tuning might not be for everyone, this is a neutral and mature sounding IEM, with crisp treble, punchy and clean bass, excellent imaging and clarity and the most transparent mid range i've ever heard under 100$.

It's not an IEM i find boring due to it's vivid resolution and captivating imaging, but it's certainly not an head banger nor a mid centric tonality with thick and lush timbre. Neutral head, treble head and demanding audiophile will love those though.

After the EW100P disappointment, the EW200 take me by surprise and I urge you to bypass EW100P and jump directly to this sub-50$ technical champ.

Bravo again Simgot, Bravo!

Very highly recommended.