SIMGOT AUDIO ET142 Universal IEM

mars chan

New Head-Fier
Pros: .

+ Excellent treble performance

+ Excellent build quality and finish

+ Very nice Simgot LC7 cable included

+ Nice dynamic driver-like bass

+ Tuning nozzle included

+ Nice assortment of accessories included

+ Musically engaging

+ Very comfortable to wear
Cons: .

- I wish the upper midrange were lower in amplitude.

- Not for bass heads or bass lovers

- Not for warm sound lovers

- Average imaging and staging
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Simgot ET142 review

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Hello guys and gals, it's me again, back for a review of this high-quality hybrid IEM, the Simgot ET142 (219 USD), which utilizes a 12.5mm planar magnetic and a multi-layer piezoelectric ceramic per channel and interchangeable tuning nozzles. This was sent to me as a review tour demo unit, meaning I don't get to keep it, but as always, everything I say here will be my own opinion coming from my own perspective. So read on and see how good this IEM is.

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The packaging is the typical Simgot style, which is elegantly designed yet practical and not too wasteful. It includes a manual, a nice magnetic case, the very nice Simgot LC7 modular cable with 4.4mm and 3.5mm plugs, a variety of small rubber rings for the nozzle to be used as a gasket and indicator, three pairs of nozzles aside from the pair already installed in the IEM, three different kinds of ear tips, and the IEMs themselves.

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The shell is nicely done; it's metallic, smooth, and nice to the touch. The wearing comfort is excellent; there is no pressure buildup; the pressure is released instantly when you first put it in your ears. It is very comfortable to wear even on long listening sessions.

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For this review, I used my iBasso DC Elite, Letshuoer DT03, Celest CD-2, and TRN Black Pearl but ultimately decided to use the TRN Black Pearl solely in the sound evaluation part because it is the most neutral-sounding of the bunch. I used TRN T-tips and the 4.4mm plug connector because the reviewer before me forgot to send the stock tips and the 3.5mm plug. As for the nozzles, I used the one already installed when it came, the dark bronze rainbow colored nozzles.

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It's barely worth mentioning the power handling and sensitivity at all, as it has no problem taking a lot of power, and it goes very loud without distorting. The sensitivity is average. Just like the majority of the IEMs coming out these days, I'm happy to say.

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Sound signature:

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It's a mild W-shape sound signature to my ears, meaning I can hear a mildly boosted bass, upper midrange, and upper treble.

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The bass has a very good blend of sub-bass and mid-bass presence; it has good sub-bass rumble that you won't, or almost won't, be able to tell is coming from a planar. It sounds fast, articulate, and detailed, never muddy even on complex tracks.

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The lower midrange is perfectly tuned, IMO, not too much that it causes extra chestiness in vocals and not too little that it causes the voice to lack body; it makes the midrange sound lush with smooth and long decay.

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I, however, find the upper midrange a little elevated and heard it even before I measured it. There is a peak at 2.2 KHz, but I have to say that it doesn't detract from the enjoyment of the music and might be negligible to most people; I'm just sensitive to frequencies around 2 KHz. I would highly prefer if the peak was near 3 KHz. This is what made the overall sound signature of the Simgot ET142 W-shaped.

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The treble is very good, or maybe excellent; it has a very good blend of grit and gentleness, of details and micro details, and of resolution and musicality. I don't hear the usual fiasco at 8 KHz of most, not all, pure planar IEMs I've heard in the past; the piezoelectric ceramic driver must be responsible for this. Overall, the treble is never fatiguing yet revealing and airy. I think it is very close to perfection as far as I'm concerned.

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Dynamically speaking, the ET142 has a lot of it, is very dynamic and bubbly with energy, and listening to it never becomes boring.

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...And because of those characteristics mentioned above, the ET142 is very musically engaging.

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Technicalities:

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It's good, but it never wowed me at all. It's average, not special, but not bad either. The sound stage is average in size, and it is wider than it is deep. The images are distinguishable but not as defined as the best in its price range.

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Pros:

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+ Excellent treble performance

+ Excellent build quality and finish

+ Very nice Simgot LC7 cable included

+ Nice dynamic driver-like bass

+ Tuning nozzle included

+ Nice assortment of accessories included

+ Musically engaging

+ Very comfortable to wear

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Cons:

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- I wish the upper midrange were lower in amplitude.

- Not for bass heads or bass lovers

- Not for warm sound lovers

- Average imaging and staging

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Conclusion:

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It may not be a technical beast, but the overall sound quality will make you forget about technicalities, and you'll find yourself getting lost in the music because of sheer musical engagement. For those music lovers who don't care too much about the performance of imaging and sound staging but focus on musical enjoyment and pleasure, I highly recommend the Simgot ET142 to you.

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Happy listening, cheers!

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cqtek

1000+ Head-Fier
Mirror, Mirror, Mirror...
Pros: + Great low end, with a lot of punch, resolution, volume, forcefulness, energy and quality.
+ Expressive, vivid, splashy, analytical, yet controlled and pleasing midrange.
+ Low/medium energy level treble, but sharp and crisp yet very extended and airy.
+ Great frontal presence, wide and coarse.
+ Outstanding design quality, level of accessories, great cable, very good selection of add-ons.
+ Four tuning mouthpieces, spare silicone rings and extra tuning foams.
+ Premium sound and quality for a totally justified price.
Cons: - I would have liked the cable to have a screw-in pin locking mechanism.
- It could improve on aspects such as a more surrounding soundstage, better layering and layer separation, greater depth.
- It presents a cooler, more analytical and splashy sound that takes it away from a warmer, more relaxed organic base.
Introduction

SIMGOT means “Simple and Elegant”. The brand coming from China which is one of the big ones among the low and medium budget models, is characterized by relying on the best product and a perfect service, besides the fusion of old school and fashion creativity. And in that fashion is to have in the catalog some IEMS with a planar driver. But Simgot has not stopped there, but has taken up the series that opened with its first planars, the ET1000, to continue with the ET142, IEMS that mount a planar magnetic transducer with a double-sided grille system that drives the ultra-thin diaphragm with great precision. This innovative design ensures an even application of force for dynamic bass, smooth mids and detailed highs. In addition, the ET142s are a hybrid driver design, as they mount a custom multi-layer PZT ceramic transducer that refines the high and ultra-high frequencies, adding sparkle and micro-detail to the music. After extensive tuning, Simgot has eliminated mechanical artifacts to allow for a smooth, natural and realistic presentation. The ET12s use a CNC-machined capsule, come with the premium LC7 cable, plus 4 sound tuning mouthpieces. Among them are the Blazed Titanium mouthpieces, manufactured using a high-temperature flaming process. This intricate technique involves heating chemically treated titanium tubes with a flame torch, resulting in unique and unpredictable colors ranging from blue and purple to red and yellow. These colors vary depending on the intensity and duration of the heat, making each nozzle visually unique. The variations in color and texture of each tube reflect the handcrafted nature of this art. Each mouthpiece offers enhanced harmonics, clarity and speed, making it a dream for classical and instrumental music enthusiasts.
The high-quality LC7 cable combines high-purity oxygen-free copper and silver-plated wires in a 732-core Litz structure, enhancing resolution and dynamic range. Interchangeable 3.5mm and 4.4mm connectors ensure compatibility between devices for maximum versatility.
The ET142s have been meticulously tuned to the SIMGOT-Golden 2023 target curve to provide a harmonious balance between technical precision and musical enjoyment. This tuning approach combines years of experience with state-of-the-art simulations to achieve unrivalled sonic performance.
Let's see what this excellent new model is capable of in the following review.

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Specifications

  • Driver Type: 12.5mm magnetic planar driver and multilayer piezoelectric ceramic PZT driver.
  • Frequency Response: 8Hz-40kHz.
  • Sensitivity: 118dB/Vrms (@1kHz).
  • Impedance: 14Ω ±15% (@1kHz).
  • Cable: 732-wire oxygen-free copper-silver plated mixed Litz.
  • Jack Connector: 3.5mm SE and 4.4mm BAL interchangeable plugs.
  • Capsule Connection Type: 2Pin 0.78mm.
  • Starting Price: $219.99.

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Packaging

The Simgot ET142 comes in an eminently black square box, whose dimensions are 147x146x46mm. On the main side you can read the brand name in the top left corner in a faint form. In the centre is a realistic photo of a capsule, while in the bottom right corner is the name of the model with the drivers it uses. The back side retains that faint ink colour that makes it difficult to read. With it, the entire model is described at the bottom in several languages. In the centre there is an exhaustive exploded view of the capsule. After removing the outer cardboard, a box with a black cardboard lid opens up. In its centre is a symbol of planar technology: a grid. There is also the brand slogan, all in silver ink. On the two opposite corners are silhouettes of each capsule. After removing the cardboard, the capsules can be seen inside a dense black foam at the top. Underneath, still using black cardboard boxes with copper lettering, are boxes containing the carrying case and other accessories. The silicone tips are underneath the foam block that houses the capsules. The contents are quite extensive and are as follows:

  • The two ET142 capsules.
  • A plate containing two pairs of short tuning mouthpieces.
  • A pair of gilded copper tuning mouthpieces.
  • A pair of Blazed Titanium tuning mouthpieces mounted on the IEMS.
  • Three pairs of translucent off-white silicone tips with black core, sizes SxMxL, spherical shape.
  • Three pairs of translucent grey silicone tips with orange core, sizes SxMxL, conical shape.
  • Four pairs of black silicone tips, sizes SxMxL, spherical shape, wide channel.
  • Warranty certificate.
  • User manual.
  • Four black silicone rings.
  • Four red silicone rings.
  • Four yellow silicone rings.
  • Four transparent silicone rings.
  • Six foam cylinders for inserting into the tuning mouthpieces.
  • One grey rectangular case with rounded corners and magnetic closure.
  • One LC7 cable with interchangeable plugs.

In a rather small box there are a lot of high quality accessories. The LC7 cable is of very high quality and by itself costs 70$. The box is a classic, as it came with the EA1000. In fact, the packaging is very similar to that one, but with some differences. There are three complete sets of silicone tips and four pairs of tuning mouthpieces. One pair of mouthpieces comes on a metal plate with threaded holes for storage. I find it strange that it doesn't have three pairs of holes and there are a couple of mouthpieces that are orphaned. There are spare silicone rings for the four colours used, plus some foam cylinders to add to the two pairs of long tips (the short tips already have foam inside). This is certainly an excellent packaging and quantity of accessories.

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Construction and Design

The capsules are made of polished and shiny metal alloy, as is the brand's trademark, with a mirror finish. The external shape is very similar to other designs of the brand. Each capsule consists of two visibly separate sides. The outer face has an equilateral triangle design, with very rounded corners. In the centre is the brand logo on both capsules, while the brand name is located on the rim. In what could be a corner is a gold-plated Torx screw in each capsule. On the way to the bottom rim there is a bezel, a narrow sloping face that surrounds half a capsule. On the smooth, short edge is the 0.78mm 2Pin connection interface, consisting of a translucent plastic rectangular plate and two gold and metal cylinders. Next to it there is a hole. The inner side is rounded at the edges, while the nozzles are clearly projected and inclined, looking for the best shape and angle of insertion. Near the edge is engraved the name of the moulding, the drivers it contains on another line, while a font twice as large represents the side of the channel on the side close to the connection interface. On the way to the nozzles there is another hole protected by a white mesh at the bottom. The mounted nozzles are the Blazed Titanium nozzles. There are two sizes of nozzles: the long nozzles have dimensions of: smaller diameter 5.2mm, crown diameter 6.1mm, length 4.5mm. The short nozzles have dimensions of: minor diameter 5mm, crown diameter 6.1mm, length 3.1mm. All nozzles are protected by dense metal grids.
The cable consists of two thick strands wound together. The conductor consists of 732 mixed Litz wires of oxygen-free, silver-plated copper. It has a detachable system with two plugs: a 3.5mm gold-plated SE plug and a 4.4mm gold-plated BAL plug. The two parts of the detachable system are formed by two highly polished metal cylinders with a mirror finish, just like the capsules. The splitter piece is another perfect cylinder, smaller and narrower. The pin is a metal ring of the same shape, the inner hole of which serves the purpose of a good fit. The sleeves of the 2Pin 0.78mm connection interface follow the same cylindrical, metallic, mirror-finished structure. But they have a slotted ring near the cable outlet. The two gold-plated pins are mounted on a rectangular translucent plastic platform with a round base. The cable has transparent ear guides.
As usual, the metallic, polished and mirror-finished design is a must, even with the cable. But the design is impeccable, minimalist, with the engraved lettering of the logo, brand and model. On the outside, there is only the gold-plated screw. The inside with its rounded and polished shape. It's true that they are fingerprint magnets, but the design of the capsules is premium. And the cable? So premium that it is sold separately. Fully matching and with two thick strands, with silver-plated wires that give it a practically white colour that enhances the beauty of the whole. And, as it should be, plugs with a detachable mechanism in two sizes. It's a pity that the mechanism is not screw-on. It would be almost perfect.

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Adjustment and Ergonomics

The capsules are of medium size and not too heavy, despite their metallic finish. Simgot seems to have perfected the shape of the capsules and the inclination of the mouthpieces to offer one of the most comfortable IEMS, even more so than other models from the same brand. Abandoning the dual-platform system of previous models and offering a tilted mouthpiece that seeks the best insertion angle has hit the mark, and offers a very precise, proper and long-lasting fit. There is no possibility of rotation, the fit is almost unique, but practically perfect, with a superficial insertion, which could be average depending on the mouthpieces used and the internal morphology of each one. As I say, the fit is superior, and I get it with my homemade foam-filled large tips. With them I get a great seal, high isolation and long lasting comfort. Last but not least, the over-ear cable guides are unobtrusive. Another good thing.

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Sound

Profile


The Simgot ET142s have four tuning nozzles that allow you to change their sound from 1500 Hz upwards. Variations in the frequencies below this value are not relevant in themselves, although they can have more weight due to the incidence of the rest of the frequencies. In addition, they have foam filters that can be used to modify the response of long mouthpieces. But, starting from what the manufacturer says, it is the following for each mouthpiece:

  • Blazed Titanium mouthpiece (transparent silicone ring): Extended treble and lightness for a classical and instrumental approach.
  • Gold-plated copper mouthpiece (yellow silicone ring): Warm and balanced tuning, perfect for versatile listening.
  • Stainless steel short tube mouthpiece (red silicone ring): A refined sound profile with enhanced clarity and precision.
  • Stainless steel short tube mouthpiece (black silicone ring): Smooth, dynamic tuning with a balanced response at all frequencies.

In my opinion:

  • Blazed Titanium mouthpiece (transparent silicone ring): Slightly balanced W-profile, with a clear Simgot accent in the upper mids.
  • Gold-plated copper mouthpiece (yellow silicone ring): More exciting W-profile, with more treble representation, perhaps also the most technical.
  • Short stainless steel tube mouthpiece (red silicone ring): Profile with more accentuated bass, warmer and darker.
  • Short tube stainless steel mouthpiece (black silicone ring): Profile more similar to many other planar IEMS.

Finally, I used the foam filters that come as accessories and tried inserting them into the long nozzles:

  • Blazed Titanium mouthpiece plus foam filter (transparent silicone ring): They lower the peak at 2khz by 1.5dB and the following frequencies somewhat less. This is the configuration I like the most and this review has been written with this mouthpiece. It has the classic planar profile mixed with the Simgot sparkle that gives it freshness, explicit, descriptive, informative and slightly splashy capability.
  • Gold-plated copper mouthpiece (yellow silicone ring): They lower the peak at 2khz by almost 2dB and frequencies upwards by about 1dB. There is a slight increase in sub-bass. This configuration is subtly lower than the Blazed Titanium and might be the perfect fit for many people.

The Simgot ET142s have a clear W profile that is more polarised in the sub-bass and around 2kHz. They also have a very extended treble, while they are in the current trend of lowering the energy level of the transition between upper mids and treble, even with a dedicated PZT driver in mind. Believe it or not, this model can sound dark in some configurations. But there are always filters to bring Simgot back to reality.

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Bass

What you expect from planar bass: dryness, punch, speed, low decay, speed, punch, energy, associated with a good amount of volume, power, presence and fullness, the Simgot ET142 has it. Being one of the IEMS with this type of driver with more sub-bass presence, the amount of bass can be intimidating for the most neutral. But it's certainly a fun range for bass lovers. Having a relatively smaller planar driver than the competition (12.5mm versus classic drivers above 14mm) it is able to move a good amount of air in the low end, as well as generate a level of energy that clearly hits our eardrums in a generous way. But it also feels dark, deep and wide, which is appreciated, as well as having a realistic, natural and accurate timbre.
In the very low frequency pure tone test, a mixture of darkness, physical presence and slight wave character is observed in the lower frequencies. It is undeniable that the oscillation and associated behaviour is there. But there is also a truly physical, powerful and dark component that compensates for this subtle colouring. In reality, the wave aspect disappears and the dark, physical part remains, which is what is transmitted to the deeper bass drums and the more sub-bass bases. When linking this first and classic test with the second one of dirty, complex and unfiltered bass reproduction, one realises that the above mentioned is reinforced: the ET142's ability to generate those heavy, dark, dense and complex bass lines is highly efficient, always reinforced by a very respectable physical part, which has to be respected due to the great energy it possesses. Be careful with this set! The energy level of the sub bass is not to be taken lightly, conjugated with a great sealing of the silicon tips, the power demonstrated is very high, as addictive as it is stupefying in the medium/long term. But, despite this clear caveat, the ET142s are truly capable of executing the dirtiest and most complex bass in the most fitting, descriptive and faithful manner you'd expect from a big one. The level of proficiency impresses, definition is not lost despite the combined power and the level of resolution is at an excellent stage. All this while maintaining a very high respect to the rest of the frequencies. Practically canonical.

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Mids

With a marked W-tuning it is obvious that the first half of the mids is perceived as somewhat lean, as well as slightly excited and vivid. The male voices have a subtle touch of brightness, but they also have a very full range, starting with the lowest component. For the deepest male voices you can feel that physical and energetic part that the ET12 bass has and that is also maintained for the lower mids. With the Blazed Titanium mouthpiece with foam filter, a little warmth is gained, but the expressive part of the upper mids is not spoilt. Although the presence of this first half is not the closest, there is an undeniable feeling of fullness, resolving power and informativeness throughout the entire range. In this way the male voices are extended in a very complete way, generating a level of density that makes them very homogeneous, totally structured and without any hollowness. Thus, the first half of the central range, without being a complete protagonist, can stand on its own in terms of quality, richness, exuberance, volume and informative presence. Yes, this all-round feel is common in the best planars, which make up for some frequency imbalances with a sense of body, physicality, density and level of resolution that completes the music with no ifs or buts. Couple this with an equivalent instrumental level and things get really ugly for the rest of the rivals.
It is clear that Simgot likes to have a reserve of sparkle in the upper mids. That's where the PZT driver can make its case, in the most splashy part of the notes. But that's also where the foam filters do their job. I don't want to give up Simgot's more technical, expressive and analytical capabilities, but I also don't want it to penalise the sound by making it ungainly or more incisive. The mix of the Blazed Titanium mouthpiece with foam filter is entirely adequate to achieve everything I'm looking for in these IEMS. It may not be the right spot for other fans, but it is for me. This is how I get to hear female vocals in a way that is totally expressive, sparkling, prominent, obvious, clear, transparent, elastic and completely sculpted. For some people ET12 might sound a bit metallic. But I think they have that cooler, more obvious and highly informative look that I like. The wise part is that it has managed to keep up with the current trend of the new planars by limiting the energy level in the transition from the mids to the highs, using the level of resolution of its set of drivers to not lose an iota of musical expressiveness, nor of resolving power. As always, the speed, the swift transients and the ability to represent as many elements at once demonstrate that well-designed planars know how to recreate the fullest mids per dollar spent. Truly commendable and musically expressive in equal measure.

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Treble

We enter the controversial area of planars and power level. The current trend is to tamp down the power level of the planar treble, as this is where the planar timbre can make the most impact. And Simgot takes a risk by adding a PZT driver into the equation. And the move hasn't backfired. It has gained in extension in the non-audible range, raising the air area, but maintaining a low profile and restrained energy. Performing this tuning with other drivers can have a very smooth result. But with the two drivers of the ET142 you get that restrained profile, but with a treble sonority, with sharp notes but with a low/medium level of energy. This way the notes have an edge, but are not piercing or incisive. I think this is what Simgot has aimed for, and he has succeeded. This is how you get a realistic treble, with a crisp, natural, mellow touch, but expressive throughout. To be enjoyed for many hours.

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Soundstage, Separation

The ET142s are horizontally extended, with excellent headroom, while the sense of depth is somewhat ambivalent. The bass is very powerful, with a great level of volume, but does not feel as extended in depth. Perhaps they lack a point of elasticity, while the dryness and speed of the lower notes makes that sense of depth somewhat more limited. The very explicit level of the ET142s allows a lot of information to exist on planes very close to the listener and this is something that also limits that sense of depth. Much of the music is very close. The mid-plane also has a lot of information, but the deeper layers are somewhat overshadowed by the overall macro exposure. In this way, any micro detail that might exist in the background is not as visible.
In a fairly wide scene, with a noticeable sideways feel, the horizontal separation is obvious, as is the distance in height. But this separation is not so three-dimensional. The bass can indeed offer an immersive feeling thanks to its volume and its immersive, physical power. But the character of the ET142s is more explicit and overwhelming, rather than gaseous or volatile. That said, the sheer amount of resolution means that the positioning of the elements in the image is quite evident and discernible.

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Comparisons

7Hz Timeless II (Gold flat mouthpieces)


A great model has to be compared with another great model to know if it is up to the task. And this year's great planar model is the legendary second edition of 7Hz, the outstanding 7Hz Timeless II. As I said in my review about them, they are the reference to beat, so the comparison with the Simgot ET142 is totally appropriate. Starting with the price of the two, there is only a $9 difference, with the 7Hz costing $229 and the ET142 $220. It is clear that the 7Hz has a very particular design, with that round shape, with the pyramids on its external face. While the ET142s use a capsule shape with a more semi-custom shape, but with a premium finish. The level of construction is impeccable in both cases and the design, although classic, is more different in the 7Hz, so that originality gives them a plus. But the level of solidity and the details that make the ET142s more comfortable and easier to put on also give them an overall plus. So, almost a tie in construction and design, while in the fit/ergonomics section I find the Simgot clearly better. As far as accessories are concerned, again there is a great deal of choice for both brands. But the 7Hz offers a unique metal case, a detachable screw-on cable (just what I ask from Simgot) and a plate to store all the mouthpieces. Yes, the 7Hz also comes with four mouthpieces. The Simgot also offer those foams to modify the sound a bit more. But their plate can only store two pairs of mouthpieces, while the 7Hz allows the other three pairs to be stored. It is clear that the Simgot cable, the LC7, is totally premium, thick and distinguished. But the 7Hz cable has 4 strands that make it more flexible, plus that screw-on jacket that secures the connection of the pins. A hybrid between the two cables would be great. But Simgot has also taken care of the details, including the spare silicone washers, as well as those foam cylinders. Both offer three pairs of silicone tips and both offer a set with four sizes. But 7Hz have provided a special and different set. Again, this accessory section is very close, but I think for the metal case of the 7Hz, the detail of the cable thread and those special nipples, I'll take the 7Hz by a very small margin.
In terms of profile, the 7Hz offers a more balanced and homogeneous profile in all its mouthpieces. There are four tunings whose changes are noticeable from 1000Hz onwards, with that clear difference at 2kHz. The ET142s also offer 4 tunings from their 4 mouthpieces, but the foams allow the two tunings of the long mouthpieces to be smoothed out, so there are 6 tunings. Here the differences are found from 1500Hz onwards, while the differences at 2200Hz are larger, although they are somewhat compressed when the two tunings appear with the foams.
As I say, the 7Hz profile is more balanced, while the ET142's profile is more pronounced in W, with a higher sub-bass, a peak at 2kHz also more energetic, while the treble of both models are almost the same, except that the ET142 has a bit more air.
For the comparison I have used my preferred mouthpieces on both models, the Flat Gold for the 7Hz and the Blazed Titanium with foams for the ET142. With these configurations the frequency responses of both models are quite similar, with the caveats mentioned above: the 7Hz are more balanced, with a subtle lower emphasis on the sub-bass and less peak at 2kHz. Each model demands a good level of power to perform optimally, but I would say that the 7Hz requires a little more power to match volumes.
If there is one thing that captivated me about the 7Hz, it was the size of its soundstage and the texture of the bass. The ET142s have a more expressive profile and more bass power. The Simgot's low end is more powerful, punchier, stronger, a little more elastic, voluminous and perhaps a little darker and deeper. The 7Hz bass is very well textured, more agile, dry and fast. The very low frequency pure tone test shows that the Simgot's start to be more noticeable when it comes to reproducing the sub-bass, offering more physical and audible presence from the first 20Hz note. There is perhaps a little more wave character in the ET142s and a little more colour, while the 7Hz offers pure tones with a physical component above the audible, creating a more natural sense of realism. But the Simgot's offer more power, punch and impact, as well as more volume. Thus, their bass is more spectacular against the more exquisite technical quality of the 7Hz. The ET142s don't fall short in this respect, but they stand out for their greater physical component. My opinion? Well, the Simgot's punch leaves me hooked. And when I talk about technical performance, both offer excellent behaviour, but perhaps that more focused control of the 7Hz makes the Timeless IIs more precise and balanced with the rest of the frequencies. But that's not to say that the Simgot's don't perform well in dirty, unfiltered bass tests, it's just that their character is wilder.
In the first instance, the overall differences between the two IEMS become clearer. When compared hand in hand, these differences are diluted. The male voices of the 7Hz are warmer and move towards the lower end of the frequencies. Whereas on the ET142s they feel a little more projected, with a little more clarity and a little cooler, perhaps with a little less base. It is clear that the vocals on the Simgot stay closer, they are a bit more obvious. But that richness that comes from having a sharper base, a deeper fundamental, which gives it a superior body and lushness, with that purer soulful feel and that level of texture that it gains, makes the first part of the 7Hz more delightful and enjoyable in the long run.
Something similar happens in the second half of the midrange. The 7Hz offers that more natural, warmer side, with that more natural, organic timbre, approaching a magical realism. The ET142s are more excited and offer less texture and a smoother surface, but are closer, more expressive, splashy, vivid and informative. But also clearer and a little more penetrating.
Those looking for an expressive balance, more warmth, a more organic and natural sound, should choose the 7Hz, while those looking for stronger sensations, more liveliness and a sound with more punch, bite and presence, should go for the ET142s.
The treble of both models sound very similar to me, with a very similar tuning. Only the timbre is a bit fresher and the notes seem a bit sharper and more sparkling in the ET142s, with all the positive and negative things that can happen. It also seems to have a bit more air with that piezo character that comes from the hybrid construction.
And now come the differences. While the 7Hz seems blunter, a little less refined, it has a better layering of sound, being more defined when it comes to layering. And in that respect, the micro detail is better uncluttered as well. Their soundstage is larger, with a more obvious lateral feel. The ET142s are much more frontal, while the Timeless IIs are much more open, surrounding the head. The sense of lateral provenance in the 7Hz is impressive, while the ET142s are more focused, with less flat, less immersive and less dramatic in presentation. The 7Hz's soundstage is more surrounding and three-dimensional. And although they seem a little rougher, that natural organic feel adds a richness that enhances the micro detail. It also seems to have more space to develop it. Whereas the great expressive and resolving ability of the ET142s is limited by the somewhat more compressed and frontal scene it possesses. This also makes the Simgot's sense of separation feel more limited, even though macro detail is more vivid on the Simgot.
Choosing between the 7Hz Timeless II and the Simgot ET142 is like choosing between mum and dad, between big brother and little brother, with the middle one being between opting for one of your two best friends. Each has its strengths and each will make us enjoy ourselves in that respect.

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Conclusion

Simgot has gone one step further in the planar race by creating a hybrid IEMS that features a 12.5mm planar magnetic driver with a double-sided grille, plus a multilayer piezoelectric ceramic PZT driver. And it does so inside a mirror-finished metal capsule that has a medium-sized semi-custom design, with a shape that enhances comfort, ergonomics and fit in my ears, as the best do. The presentation is exquisite, in a package that's modest in size, but generous in quality and quantity of accessories. Simgot provides this model with its high-end LC7 cable, whose connection reinforces the premium character of the set. In addition, it adds four pairs of tuning mouthpieces, plus foam cylinders that allow up to 6 different tunings in total. The importance of the tuning foams lies in my impression that with them, plus the Blazed Titanium filter, the most appropriate tuning of this great model is achieved. Its sound is characterised by an energetic W that starts with a heavy sub-bass, a high physical component, volume, power and punch. It seems incredible how a smaller planar driver can generate so much bass energy, moving so much air as if it were a dynamic driver, but with that precision, speed and resolving power typical of planars. In the midrange the ET142s present themselves as a vivid, expressive, analytical and splashy package, but in a more controlled and restrained way. The piezo driver brings an extended sparkle in both the midrange and treble, gaining finesse, edge, adding a very controlled crispness that separates it from the competition, even, reaching a greater extension. The scene is eminently frontal, large, but close, where macro detail is displayed with clarity and obviousness. In addition, it possesses sufficient expressive capacity to demonstrate micro detail, although the layering capabilities, depth extension, surround character and three-dimensionality of the elements fall short of the larger ones. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that the Simgot ET142s are among the best IEMS at this price point and one of my favourites when it comes to powerful, accurate bass reproduction and fresh, analytical, full and impressive sound. Undoubtedly among this year's greats.

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Sources Used During the Analysis

  • iFi GO bar Kensei.
  • EPZ TP50.
  • Burson Audio Playmate 2.
  • Aune X8 XVIII Magic DAC + OpAmp Sparkos Labs SS3602 + ifi ZEN CAN 1.
  • Tempotec MARCH V.
  • Tempotec V3 Blaze.

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SIMGOT offered me this model, in exchange for writing an honest review. I want to make it clear that all my opinions written in this review have not been conditioned by this fact, nor will I ever write anything that I do not really think or feel here. I will only write about my personal opinion in relation to the revised product.

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Purchase Link

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You can read the full review in Spanish here

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inscythe

100+ Head-Fier
Simgot ET142 Review: “Knight in Shining Armor”
Pros: Tactile, speedy bass
Detailed and textured mids
Bold and audacious treble tuning
Great technicalities
Amazing set of accessories
Cons: The uppermids and treble might be too hot for some
Very fingerprint-magnet housing
Somewhat unnatural timbre
Need some power to get an optimal sound
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Disclaimer: Simgot has kindly provided me with a review unit. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Introduction​

Simgot ET142 ($220) is the first IEM from Simgot equipped with a “true” planar magnetic driver. Unlike the “annular planar magnetic driver” in the SuperMix 4 and EW300 which are actually somewhere in between DD and planar magnetic driver in construction, the ET142 is using a 12.5mm, dual-sided magnetic array planar driver, with an additional multilayered piezoelectric driver. Simgot is not a stranger to the planar magnetic driver, after all they did release a full-sized planar magnetic headphones called the ET1000 around 6 years ago as of the release of ET142. Certainly they did take their time shifting this experience to the IEM realm.

As far as driver configuration goes, Simgot is certainly the first company that paired a planar magnetic driver and piezoelectric driver, two of the notoriously difficult to tune drivers, together. Now, did they manage to pull it off? Let’s find out!

Packaging, Build & Specifications​

Driver configuration: 12.5mm planar magnetic + multi-layer piezoelectric ceramic
Impedance: 14Ω ±15% (@ 1kHz)
Sensitivity: 118dB/Vrms (@ 1kHz)
Frequency response range: 8Hz–40kHz
Connector: 0.78mm 2-pin
Cable material: 732-core mixed oxygen-free copper & silver-plated Litz
Plug: modular 3.5mm single-ended & 4.4mm balanced


As usual, the unboxing experience of a Simgot IEM is extremely satisfying to say the least. First, you encounter the IEM upfront, then followed by the neatly boxed accessories: the cable (which is actually the excellent Simgot LC7 cable worth $70 separately), leather hard case, eartips (3 different types, each with S/M/L sizes), extra nozzles (2 pairs in the carrying plate, 1 pair loose), and a full set of tuning kit consisting of foams and coloured O-rings. Honestly, I was getting more and more impressed as I opened each accessory box.

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If anything to complain about, I probably would point out the nozzle carrying plate, which only accommodates two pairs of nozzles, leaving one pair of nozzles loosely stored in a plastic bag. My guess is that Simgot decided to add yet another nozzle last minute in the production to give the customers more options, which I can really appreciate. I will go through each nozzle in the next section.

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Blazed titanium nozzle and gold-plated copper nozzle
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Blazed titanium, stainless steel (red), stainless steel (black) nozzles with the storage plate


About the IEM build itself, the housing is extremely shiny and polished, similar to the EA500 series. While it is striking and pretty, I found them to be very much a fingerprint magnet and found myself wiping them from time to time. That said, they’re very solid with some heft, making it feel very premium in hand. Luckily, it is not too heavy to affect the comfort. I find myself able to wear them for long periods of time without much fatigue.

Sound Impressions​

Sources: SMSL D300+H300 stack, FiiO M23, FiiO JM21, Xduoo XD05 Bal2, MuseHifi AE-301, Luxury & Precision W4
Setup: Stock translucent black L eartips, stock cable on 4.4mm
Music Sources: Youtube Music, Tidal, Lossless FLACs

The IEM has undergone a 24-hour burn-in at a medium volume prior to the review.

Impression from listening is a very subjective experience depending on individual ear shape, choice of eartips, music library, and personal preferences, so your experience may vary. I personally listen mostly to pop (J-pop especially), jazz, some rock, and very limited metal and EDM.


To start with, my impression of each nozzle is as follows:
  • Blazed titanium (stock): bright, energetic with some sizzle in uppermids, very detailed and airy
  • Short stainless steel with black ring: balanced-bright, less sizzle than stock with good amount of details and air, more midbassy
  • Short stainless steel with red ring: dark-ish tuning compared to the rest, even more midbass emphasis due to less contrast in upper end
  • Gold-plate copper: slightly brighter, more energetic than the stock, more forward presentation overall
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Personally, I like the stainless steel with black ring the most, probably the closest to my personal preference. However, I would continue this review with the stock nozzle (blazed titanium), since it seems to be the one that gives it a more unique presentation compared to its competitors.

I would describe ET142 sound signature as a shallow V-shaped, with the brightness levels depending on the nozzle selection. As shown in the graph, the bass levels are relatively unchanged in the nozzle, but psychoacoustically I felt some difference in perceived bass levels due to the contrast against the uppermids and treble.

With the stock nozzle, I feel that the bass is more subbass focused compared to both of the stainless steel short nozzles. I find bass to be very tight and controlled with little bleed to the mids. The leading punch is quite impactful then dissipates pretty quickly, not overstaying its welcome. The bass texture is also quite pleasant with a good amount of rumble, although I do sometimes find myself wanting for more thunderous boom in some of the bigger orchestral pieces. In tracks like “Bury the Light” by Casey Edwards, the low frequency textures do pop out well, and yet not too much to be a distraction.

Mids in ET142 are competent, but aren't the star of the show in my opinion. I could not really find any fault either. They are relatively clean without much bleed from the bass. Vocals are reproduced quite well, both male and female performances. The details are quite good and the note weight is just right. I really think Simgot nailed the mids tuning really well and I really have no complaints. With Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You”, I find the vocal has a pretty accurate timbre and thickness, not being too forward or backward in positioning and overall enjoyable.

Treble is indeed ET142’s strongest suit in my opinion, which is why I feel that trying to suppress it would make it lose its ‘magic’. The stock blazed titanium nozzle teeters very close to the edge of being too sharp or shouty to me personally, a very bold and risky approach. The treble extension is amazing, giving lots of airiness and space to the sound. I find it great for orchestral pieces like Yasunori Mitsuda’s “Time’s Scar”, reliably giving me goosebumps when the flute plays.

Technicalities-wise, I would say that the resolution and soundstage are the standout aspects. The main issue with the previous generation of planar magnetic IEMs is often the wall-of-sound presentation of the soundstage which often made it quite claustrophobic. My best guess is that the addition of the PZT driver injected some spatiality to the planar driver, without affecting the detail retrieval capability. Timbre is still slightly unnatural, unfortunately, having a pretty noticeable planar timbre, although to a much lesser extent than the previous generation. Layering is very good, even on complex tracks, and the imaging is pretty pin-point.

(with stock blazed titanium nozzle)
Bass: tight, speedy, textured, short rumbles, subbass-focused
Mids: clean, resolving, accurate, just right note weight
Treble: bright, detailed, airy, extended
Technicalities: very resolving, quite wide soundstage, slight planar timbre, very good layering, pin-point imaging

Power Requirement and Pairing Suggestions​

As far as getting out a listenable volume, the ET142 doesn’t really need much power. However, I found that lower-powered devices often make it sound too sharp to my tastes. A beefier source seems to control the driver better, giving a more balanced tonality.

Select Comparisons​

7Hz Timeless II ($229):
The follow-up to the very IEM that restarted the planar magnetic hype, the Timeless II is a very competent IEM (my review coming soon). I think that both ET142 and Timeless II decided to tackle the planar soundstage issue in 2 different ways: Simgot with the addition of PZT driver, and 7Hz with the unique nozzle design. Both also seem to have figured out how to minimize the planar timbre. Tuning-wise, they’re pretty similar so it is more about the differences in customization in my opinion. Both are offering customizable tuning through nozzles. In my opinion, Timeless II has a more innovative selection in this aspect, and ET142 offers more straightforward options. I think it is really down to preferences to which IEM can provide you with the customization that matches your taste. Personally, I could go with either of them depending on the tracks and mood.

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TangZu Wu Zetian The Legend ($259):
Wu Zetian The Legend (WZTL) is also another follow-up to a previously popular planar magnetic set in the past, aiming to tackle that planar timbre issue in another way: by adding a second annular planar driver (my review coming soon too). This resulted in a more vocal-focused set compared to ET142. I personally find WZTL to be thicker in note weight and generally less bright in side-by-side comparison with ET142. It’s also more balanced and closer to neutral. Sadly, WZTL doesn’t offer the same customization options as the others. Personally, I would go with ET142 due to its more extensive customizability, but I can see if someone’s preferences are already in line with WZTL tuning that it would be a good option for them.

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Conclusion​

ET142 is one of the strongest competitors in the current planar war, offering a great value in accessories, customizability, and sound quality. While the tuning can be quite risky, especially if you’re sensitive to uppermids and treble, the nozzles offer some options to adjust it to your preference. As a package, I do find it to be quite a worthwhile consideration and I do recommend this even as a blind buy.

d m41n man

100+ Head-Fier
Simgot ET142 : Crowdsourced Planar Chameleon
Pros: • 4 tuning nozzles, each drastically changes the sound from warm, balanced tilting to bright. Plus some tuning foams kit. A fiddler's dream set.
• Overall, a balanced leaning to an energetic bright set with all of the strengths of a planar magnetic IEM
• Deep-reaching, well defined and decaying bass gliding to some lush, full mids
• Smooth, non-offensive treble (red) to shimmery and airy (default bluish)
• Imaging, layering, and speedy, clear detail-retrieval
• Premium, weighty build and glossy-finish
• Well accessorized with an awesome-feeling interchangeable modular cable
• Not that hard to drive yet scales performance when powered well as with planars
Cons: • Somewhat colored and less transparent timbre (but still better than most planars)
• Average soundstage width
• Default nozzles might be peaky for others
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Introduction
After a period of coming up with single DD bangers, Simgot has been a releasing some multidriver hits recently as of late. The remarkable SuperMix4, the EM10, and their recent budget tribrid triple-version release, the EW300 - all encompassing their creativity in mixing it up to provide exceptional sound and build quality while keeping the price relatively low. They certainly lived up to their name as "Salute to Art and Science". Though for the majority of their patrons, they have to wonder where is their entry to the planar magnetic arena apart from their early ET1000 effort? Ask no more as they have released the latest contender in the planar battlefield, which may probably be their most versatile set yet. A little bit of a backstory as this set has gone through a couple of revisions before arriving to its present form and package, gathering as much feedback and inputs from the community. Think of the ET142 as somewhat of a crowdsource project and boy, have they listened and catered to the majority as this set seemed to be designed to please the majority preference by coming up with a solution to every sound tuning nitpick. Let's take a look as to how the ET142 sets itself apart from the planar magnetic IEM flock. I would like to tip my hat to Simgot with this effort as being a company that actually LISTENED to feedback and constructive criticism.

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Build and Inclusions
The Simgot ET142 comes in a somewhat hybrid configuration of a dual-symmetric magnetic planar driver and a custom multi-layer PZT driver. Exquisitely housed in Simgot's signature metallic CNC shells though the ones used on the ET142 felt more premium and solid than their previous efforts. Combining it with a thick, elegant, quality-feeling, premium LC7 Litz modular cable with both interchangeable 3.5mm SE and 4.4mm BAL plugs. Along with 3 diff sets of three pairs eartips in different sizes and bores, topping all off are 4 interchangeable tuning nozzles + kit, each with a different personalized sound as per below descriptions based off of their official release notes:

Blazed Titanium (Default transparent ring) : Extended treble and airiness for classical and instrumental focus

Gold-plated Copper (Yellow ring) : warm and balanced tuning, perfect for versatile listening

Stainless Red-ring Short Tube : refined sound profile with enhanced clarity and precision

Stainless Black-ring Short Tube : Smooth and dynamic tuning with balanced response across frequencies

Included as well are replacement rings, a magnetic carrying case (same as with the EA1000) and extra foams for additional customization. You can basically play around and fine-tune the planar sound to your heart's content and is definitely a turnkey IEM modifier's dream with just the right limitations. The set itself is not that hard to drive compared to other planar IEMs but do scale when fed with extra power, increasing the dynamics. All of these, packaged in a simple yet classy-looking slidecover box priced at just $220.

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Sound and Comparisons
This is really a dream-come-true for those who want to fiddle and play around with their sound as the ET142 could very well be the planar chameleon. Before I start with my impressions, do note that majority of my listening hours was using the stock silicone eartips and mostly the default blazing titanium nozzle and the short silver tip red ring nozzle as both of these still retain that signature Simgot energy. With the red nozzle, it balances everything if you find the default nozzles peaky and fatiguing. With either, I can say would cater to the majority of listeners. What about the general sound you say? For me, this is the planar IEM to own. Very well tuned, albeit still colored but its tonality is gently tightrope-walking between being natural and artificially fun. As with most planar IEMs, transaparency is not the first word one would have in mind but this set does blur that line. It has deep-reaching bass that is not muddy or pillowy, well-defined then glides and extends onto a satisfying impact when called upon. The mids sound lush and rich, unlike some planars in which the mids recession is apparent. Vocals still are right smack in the middle, kind of like a phantom center in speakers. Timbre may not be its strong suit but it still is not distracting enough compared to the likes of the Letshuoer S12 or 7hz Dioko (with lean mids and obvious v-shape tilt) to take you away from its strengths and proficiencies. The highs are inoffensive (except for some with the default nozzles), extends beautifully and is very airy. Cymbals and high hats shimmer with amazing grace. What it does in spades is its detail retrieval, layering and imaging. It does so in a way that everything felt effortless and is up to planar speed. Play a busy track and it renders it amazingly well without breaking a sweat and eithout distortion. It really does play to what planar magnetics are best at. Staging goes just a bit above average in terms of width, depth is not intimate but it is there while the height does feel somewhat immersive. The ET142 for me complements and at the same time antagonizes well with the 7hz Timeless, the one that startedcthe planar magnetic IEM craze. The Timeless's identity is outright there with a V-shape that favors excitement without mixing anything up while the ET142 can be what you want it to be based on your listening preference. Some of the tuning nozzles like the yellow and black ringed ones colors and dulls the overall signature but they are still tastefully done. You can tune it to your liking with extra foam as well.

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Conclusion
I applaud Simgot's effort to come up with a product such as the ET142. It truly is a crowdsourced project, taking in constructive feedback from every people before finalizing its release. The end and final product is a culmination of the majority's preference and it plays well to THE planar magnetic IEM's strengths as it should, while showing less of its weaknessess. Ending up as one of, if not the best, planar IEM in the market right now at a price of $220, it's like owning multiple IEM sets in one with its customizarion options. Though if you feel not playing around with its various tuning nozzles, it still has that special sauce but sets it apart from the planar flood in the market. And that well-implemented PZT doesn't hurt too. I just hope momentum will still catch on as it has been around being tweaked and fine-tuned earning and heading to its final retail form. Good job Simgot.

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Sidenotes:
IEM set has been listened via the Sony ZX-707, AK Kann Ultra, AK SP2000T, and ifi Go Bar Kensei separately using the stock silicon eartips , majority with the default blazing titanium nozzles and short tip red ring nozzles over the course of multiple genres across FLACs (16bit&24bit) and streaming (Tidal). The Simgot ET142 is available in major dealers for $219.99 -
https://www.linsoul.com/products/si...VP6SHjPUfCeasfO29pqgBAqcUVrqdxksAtuvXWmdbFvfX

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Ianbanz

New Head-Fier
SIMGOT ET142 12.5mm planar magnetic + multi-layer piezoelectric – A Masterclass in Planar Hybrid
Pros: ✅ Exceptional clarity, detail retrieval, and resolution
✅ Balanced yet energetic tuning with customizable sound via nozzles
✅ Deep, well-textured bass with fast decay
✅ Natural vocals and timbre
✅ Refined yet extended treble with excellent micro-detail
✅ Comfortable fit with a premium CNC-machined alloy shell
✅ Simgot LC7 a $70 premium cable.
Cons: ❌ Soundstage depth is moderate rather than vast
❌ Might not suit those seeking a super-warm or laid-back tuning
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I'll be honest—reviewing the SIMGOT ET142 was an uphill battle, but not for the usual reasons. As a reviewer, it's my job to find both strengths and weaknesses, to offer a fair and balanced perspective. But with the ET142, I genuinely struggled to find anything to critique.

Over the past few years, Chi-Fi has reached new heights in craftsmanship and innovation. Many modern IEMs not only compete with but often surpass mainstream giants in both sound and build quality. SIMGOT, in particular, has been on an impressive streak. From the EW100 and EW300 to the EA500, EA500LM, and now the ET142, every release feels meticulously crafted and refined.

If there's one thing I've come to associate with SIMGOT, it's their signature clarity, refined treble, and exceptional resolution. Even when they released the warmer-leaning EW300 last year, it still maintained that energetic, lively treble. The ET142, however, takes things to another level—it’s balanced, immersive, and effortlessly natural, delivering one of the most compelling listening experiences I’ve had in a long time.

Note:

I heard that Simgot initially released an early version of the ET142 last year to a select group of evaluators. From what I’ve gathered, the original prototype leaned heavily towards an analytical sound—perhaps a bit too clinical for some tastes. Simgot took that feedback to heart and went back to the drawing board, fine-tuning the ET142 to strike a better balance. The final version still retains that impressive technical prowess, but now it also brings a more organic, musical character to the table.

Whats in the box? heres a quick unboxing video of the Simgot ET142.



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Build & Design:
The ET142 might be a finger print magnet like the ea500 but its still a work of aesthetic and engineering brilliance. The CNC-machined alloy shell feels premium, durable, offering an ergonomic fit that remains comfortable even during extended listening sessions.
My nozzled of choice is the “Blazed Titanium” nozzles. These nozzles are crafted through a high-temperature flame-bluing process, creating unique, unpredictable hues ranging from blue and purple to red and yellow. Each set is one-of-a-kind, reflecting the handmade nature of this craft. i have titanium bike parts like this they call it Oil Slick because of the rainbow hues it make when a light hits the surface just like how an oil slick look on water.

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Interchangeable Nozzles for Custom Tuning
One of the standout features of this IEM is its included tuning kit consist of 4 nozzles and some tuning foam, allowing listeners to fine-tune the sound to match their preferences. Each nozzle material and design subtly alters the frequency response, making it easy to switch between different sound signatures depending on your mood or genre of choice.

Blazed Titanium (Transparent Silicone Ring): A warm yet balanced tuning, making it a great all-rounder for general listening. It provides a natural, musical presentation with a touch of warmth, making vocals and instruments feel more organic. This, along with the Red Ring nozzle, is my personal pick for everyday use.

Gold-Plated Copper (Yellow Silicone Ring): This nozzle emphasizes airy, extended treble, bringing out brilliant detail and spaciousness in the highs. It’s perfect for classical, acoustic, and instrumental music, where the extra air and clarity help strings, pianos, and orchestral arrangements shine, this one i consider as the closest to the Simgot house sound.

Stainless Steel (Red-Circle Short Tube): This nozzle introduces a slight dip in the upper midrange and lower treble, shifting the focus toward a cleaner, more powerful bass response. It creates a fun, energetic, and musical tuning, ideal for those who enjoy a strong low-end presence.

Stainless Steel (Black-Circle Short Tube): A smoother, more dynamic tuning that strikes a natural balance across the frequency range. It offers a relaxed yet engaging presentation, making it a great choice for long listening sessions or for those who prefer a non-fatiguing yet detailed sound signature. This and the Titaniun nozzle are very similar sounding.

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Sound Performance:
The ET142 isn’t just technically proficient, it’s musically engaging, striking an ideal balance between resolution, dynamics, and natural tonality.

Bass:
The ET142's bass is a masterclass in balance, power, and control. The subbass digs deep, offering a rich, authoritative presence that delivers a satisfying, well-textured rumble. It reaches into the lower depths with confidence, adding a sense of weight and depth without ever feeling bloated or excessive, the subbass maintains a refined yet immersive quality.

The midbass is punchy and well-defined, striking a fine balance between impact and restraint. It provides a solid foundation for rhythm-heavy tracks, injecting energy and presence without bleeding into the mids. The attack is snappy and precise, while the fast decay keeps things tight, ensuring that basslines remain clean and articulate rather than muddy or sluggish.
What stands out about the ET142’s low end is its sense of discipline it’s powerful yet controlled, allowing intricate bass textures to shine through. This makes it just as enjoyable for bass guitar grooves and jazz upright bass as it is for electronic beats and cinematic soundscapes. If youre a bass lover and who appreciates clarity and separation, the ET142 delivers an engaging, well-tuned bass experience that enhances the music without overwhelming it.

Midrange:
SIMGOT has truly nailed the midrange tuning on this set, striking a delicate balance between warmth, clarity, and realism, something that’s not always easy to achieve, especially with a planar driver. Male and female vocals sound organic and lifelike, free from the artificial coloration or overly thin presentation that some planar drivers tend to introduce. There’s a natural weight to the lower mids, giving male vocals a rich, full-bodied presence, while female vocals shine with clarity and expressiveness, never veering into sibilance or harshness.
Instrument separation is another highlight. Each element in the mix feels distinct yet cohesive, allowing guitars, pianos, and strings to breathe naturally within the soundstage. The layering is excellent, giving the midrange an almost three-dimensional feel where details emerge effortlessly without being forced.
The upper mids are crisp, well-detailed, and airy, providing an engaging sense of clarity without ever becoming overly forward or harsh. SIMGOT has done a fantastic job of taming any potential planar timbre issues, as I couldn’t detect any of that unnatural metallic sheen that sometimes plagues planar IEMs. Both vocals and acoustic instruments come across as organic, nuanced, and true to life, making the midrange one of the strongest aspects of this tuning.

Treble:
SIMGOT has built a reputation for exceptional treble tuning, and the ET142 continues that legacy with finesse. The multi-layer PZT driver does a remarkable job of handling both the high and ultra-high frequencies, delivering an experience that feels detailed, airy, and effortlessly extended. Treble notes shimmer with clarity and precision, allowing micro-details to shine through without ever becoming fatiguing or overly sharp.

What makes the treble stand out is its balance between smoothness and energy. It has just the right amount of brightness to bring out the sparkle in cymbals, the delicate bite of a violin, or the airiness in vocal harmonics all without crossing into harsh territory. Sibilance is kept in check, and there’s a natural decay to high-frequency elements, ensuring that instruments like flutes and chimes retain their organic timbre rather than sounding artificially sharp.

Another impressive aspect is the treble’s sense of layering and depth. There’s an openness to the presentation that adds dimension to the soundstage ( a known Simgot trait to almost all simgot iems) makes the highs feel well-separated and spacious rather than compressed. This extension into the ultra-high frequencies contributes to a sense of air and refinement, giving music a lifelike, resolving character that makes listening a pleasure for both detail lovers and those who prefer a fatigue-free experience.

With its well-controlled sparkle, excellent micro-resolution, and smooth yet energetic presentation, the ET142’s treble is ver well presented, enhancing every genre.

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Soundstage & Imaging:
The soundstage is expansive, providing an immersive, out-of-head experience. Imaging is pinpoint-accurate, making it easy to distinguish instruments and spatial cues. While the stage isn’t the deepest I’ve heard, the lateral width and precise separation create an incredibly immersive listening environment.

Resolution & Dynamics:
The ET142 delivers an exceptional level of resolution and dynamic expression, making it one of the most impressive sets I’ve heard from SIMGOT to date. From micro-detail retrieval to large-scale dynamic shifts, this IEM excels at bringing out the finest nuances in a recording while maintaining a natural and engaging presentation.

At the micro level, the ET142 picks up on the smallest details, the delicate decay of a cymbal as it fades into the background, the subtle breath between vocal phrases, or the nuanced pluck of a guitar string that resonates with depth and texture. Each note carries an intricate sense of realism, as if the recording space itself is coming to life. The precision in micro-dynamics makes every track feel immersive, revealing layers of sound that might go unnoticed on lesser IEMs.

On a macro scale, the ET142 handles dynamic swings with authority and finesse. Whether it’s the sudden impact of a drum hit, the swelling intensity of an orchestral crescendo, or the energetic rise and fall of a jazz ensemble, the ET142 delivers a satisfying sense of scale and impact without sounding compressed or congested. The balance between soft, intimate moments and powerful, room-filling passages is finely tuned, ensuring that music retains its natural ebb and flow.

What sets the ET142 apart is how effortlessly it presents resolution but at times it can feel clinical but not fatiguing. It doesn’t just dissect recordings—it enhances the listening experience by making every detail feel natural and emotionally engaging.

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Flagship-Grade Cable: The LC7 – A Stock Cable Worth Talking About
If there were an award for the best stock cable, the LC7 would take the crown—no question. SIMGOT didn't hold back here; they included their $70 premium LC7 cable right in the box. And honestly? That’s a pretty big deal.

This 732-core Litz cable is a blend of high-purity oxygen-free copper (OFC) and silver-plated strands, designed to enhance resolution, dynamics, and transient response. It’s not just about looks—this construction improves conductivity, ensuring that your audio chain remains as clean and detailed as possible.

Like most upgrad cable this also has interchangeable 3.5mm and 4.4mm plugs, allowing you to switch between single-ended and balanced sources effortlessly. No need for extra adapters or third-party cables—it’s all here, right out of the box.

That said, it does have a bit of weight to it. Compared to some of my other cables, the LC7 feels noticeably thicker and more substantial, likely due to the higher strand count and thicker gauge silver-plated copper wiring. While it adds a sense of durability and premium feel, some might prefer a lighter cable for comfort. But if you’re after top-tier conductivity and sonic performance, this is a trade-off worth making.

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Final Verdict: My New Benchmark for Planar Hybrids

With the ET142, SIMGOT has set a new standard for hybrid planar IEMs. It delivers an exceptionally well-balanced sound, combining deep, authoritative bass, lifelike mids, and refined treble, all wrapped in a premium, comfortable design.

If you’re looking for a high-resolution IEM that is both technically brilliant and musically engaging, the SIMGOT ET142 is an absolute must-audition. If you’re a critical listener or someone who simply wants pure, immersive enjoyment, this IEM is nothing short of a masterpiece.

I tried pairing the ET142 with a warmer analog sounding source and the pairing brought out another layer of richness and depth.

SIMGOT ET142 is a near-flawless execution of hybrid planar technology. It’s technical yet musical, detailed yet natural, and refined yet engaging.

this is an easy recommendation. SIMGOT continues to raise the bar, and the ET142 is undoubtedly one of their finest releases yet.

Non Affiliated Link:

https://www.linsoul.com/products/si...-zQdXQKYNBmQBLKUOVCCWvy4oCaxE7-ISRWWqxalmOjXD

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NymPHONOmaniac

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: -wide and deep soundstage
-crisp resolution
-good imaging
-speedy treble attack
-warm or vividly bright tonality
-excellent modular cable
-capable technical performance
Cons: -aggressive and spiky W shape (Yellow)
-boomy resonant bass (Yellow)
-distant hall like center stage (Yellow)
-screamy treble (Yellow)
-sibilant and overly sharp upper mids (Yellow)
-artificial timbre (metallic-thin-noisy) (Yellow)
-muddy bass-mids (Red)
-dark resolution and poor imaging (Red)
-poor macro dynamic performance (Red)
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TONALITY: Yellow=6/10 Red=7/10
TECHNICALITIES: Yellow=8/10 Red=7.5/10
TIMBRE: Yellow nozzle=6/10 Red nozzle=7/10
SOUNDSTAGE: 8.5/10
IMAGING: Yellow=8/10 Red=7.5/10
MUSICALITY (subjective): 6/10
CONSTRUCTION: 8/10
ACCESSORIES: 8.5/10
SOUND VALUE: 7.5/10



Simgot is a well know IEM company from China that get big praise for their dynamic drivers IEM like from EW500 to EW200 to EA1000, then they get solid fan base for their hybrid attempt EM6L, Supermix4 and EM10.


I’ve always been a big fan of their IEMs, especially in term of high technical performance capacity at very budget price. Yet, musicality wise, i often find it borderline shouty and not enough mid licious, with exception of latest Supermix4 and EM10.

Today I will review fastly their first attempt to planar earphones, hybrid way.

Priced 220$, the ET142 use a 12.5mm planar driver + multilayered piezo. It have as well tuning nozzle.

Let see in this review how turn out the first planar hybrid attempt of Simgot.


CONSTRUCTION-ACCESSORIES

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The construction is all metal, same quality as the EA500, which mean it’s a bit heavy and prompt to finger print as well as scratch, this is inherent to most mirro finish whatever the IEM, my Final A8000 has same type of finish and is now spoil with 1M micro scratch (a proof of love I guess!).

Shell is chunky and nozzle not that long, so not thinked for deep fit.

2pin connector aren’t recessed, which mean most cable will work without issue.

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Talking about the cable, Simgot finally include their excellent LC7 modular cable, something i wish EM10 include too. It’s an excellent 732 cores copper+silver plated braided cable which is thick but flexible and smooth. One of my fav cable under 100$ in fact. Included termination are 3.5 se and 4.4 bal, i wish it include 2.5 bal too.

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Other accessories included are 9 pairs of silicone eartips in 3 models, a nice carrying case and 2 extra tuning nozzle (which were updated).

All in all, satisfying construction quality and accessories, especially this prime LC7 cable.


SOUND IMPRESSIONS

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Ok, this review will be a bit polarized so let’s begin by underlining this: I received the ET142 with a stock tuning nozzle similar to the yellow one, this filter just has a thin mesh, no extra foam filter in it. If the whole review was based on this filter alone, it would be a different story than using newer tuning nozzles that damp dynamic loudness peak and smoothen and thicken whole tonality, making it way less aggressive in upper mids and upper treble.
Yet, we still have this sound balance offered, and when we damp and darken that much tonality with foam filter, it does affect technical performance negatively…so here we suddenly have two polar opposite IEM musicality choices…for the near better and near worst.

Ultimately, ET142 feels like an incomplete IEM, in the sense, it was released too fast then Simgot tried to solve the issue in a rush, which compromised all the benefits we can expect from planar+piezo hybrid IEM in terms of performance benefit.

So what do we get with Yellow nozzle is, a sharply bright and peaky W shape signature with open soundstage, resonant sub bass, aggressive mid range with forwards and slightly metallic vocal that are prompt to sibilance and fast crunchy treble that is crisp and snappy without going plain sparkly.

BASS=Fast, boomy and resonant, light in weight, not well controlled in extension, not linear nor thick in vibrancy. Sub bass is more boosted than mid bass, it doesn't have a lot of bite or texture but good layering still due to speedy transient, you don’t struggle following bass line even if it's a busy rock track but the note range isn’t fully right. Bass isn’t tactile nor round, kick drum is light in impact and this does better with digital or electronic instruments including electric bass, but the grunt will not be very highlight or juiced.
For double bass there is too much resonance release that diffuses oddly in spatiality.
It’s an excited bass that releases its resonance behind the mids, which affect background blackness in bassy tracks but don’t feed mids with natural warmth transitions.

MIDS: Upper mids presence forwards, spiky, shouty and open sounding. It’s very energetic and bright mids that make saxo, trumpet and vocal super loud and clear. While detailed, definition is loose in release, instrument and vocal aren’t well rounded. Timbre is metallic and thin, it’s transparent but a bit noisy too. Any instrument in lower mid range will sound more distant and compressed in presence. Those aren't lush nor natural sounding mids. Note weight is light but attack is speedy. Piano sounds are more distant than wind and vocal instruments. It’s all but mildly balanced mids.

TREBLE: Crisp, airy and snappy with generous amount of micro details, clean and forward percussions rendering that don’t lack space. Instruments like acoustic guitar sound sharp and brilliant enough. Their inconsistency in treble rendering which highlights certain parts of range more, which affect percussion range stability too.
Highs aren’t thick, nor well rounded. Attack can go borderline splashy. Electric guitar sounds wrong and boxy.

IMAGING: Very good, sharp positioning, good transparency for proper layering, bit of bass resonance bloom but it doesn’t affect accuracy of positioning. Percussions are easy to track.

SOUNDSTAGE: Wide, tall and very deep. Impressively out of your head and airy.

With Red nozzle we get a warm V shape signature with vibrant thick and warm sub bass and weighty but mellow mid bass punch, rather lush and wide vocal and mids, dark and not airy, and a smooth but treble. Macro dynamic feel mushy, imaging is average at best, attack sustain-release is warm, highs aren’t crisp

BASS: Its thick, juicy and meaty, warm and kick and bass line tend to mud themself, mix together easily. Definition isn’t good, but punch is weighty and round in tactility. Sub bass sustain-release is vibrant and compressed, thick, not long in rumble nor resonant in release. This is an enjoyable bass with average performance and speed. Tones feel natural enough, bass line while a bit dark are bodied and not too loose in control.


MIDS: Smooth in a dry way, they aren’t too energetic and even a bit lean. Presence is wide and focused. Timbre is dense and warm, not very textured but natural enough. No metallic sheen this time. It’s crazy what a foam filter can do!
ET142 aren’t shouty at all with this Red nozzle, but the sense of air around the instrument isn’t there, clarity isn’t crisp and vocal and wind instruments will still dominate other instruments with this time an opaque layers, not as transparent as brighter tuning nozzles. We don’t feel we listen to a planar, even less a hybrid.

TREBLE: Still slightly spiky and thin, with metallic timbre and forwards percussions but not as aggressively as yellow nozzle. Still crisp and airy, non trebly way this time. Plenty of micro details but you don’t get all of them. It does feel a bit detached and unnatural.


COMPARISONS

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VS BQEYZ FROST (1DD+1planar-180$)


The frost is warmer and more neutral to mid centric. It has more mid bass and lower mid range. Bass is punchier, rounder, less resonant and sustained in sub bass, more vibrant in rumble, more overall more neutral, it’s just about well balanced mid bass boost here.
The mids are way lusher and more natural, with wider, less compressed and bright presence, tone is more natural and colorful, upper mids are softer, better rounded, pina gain is lower yet macro dynamic is energetic too.
Overall mids of ET142 are more distant, centered-compressed, crisp and clean, not as holographic and fully layered, vocal are so much better with Frost their no competition here, lower mids scoop is more evident and show an overall more U shape balance with ET142.
Treble is sharper, speedier and noisier with the ET142, its thicker yet as well layered with Frost, but its not as extended nor as rich and forwards with micro details.
Soundstage is wider with the Frost but taller and deeper with ET142.
Imaging is superior with ET142, especially with the brighter W shape balance of the Yellow tuning nozzle, its overall more analytical even if not as full and lean in treble section.

All in all, the Frost wins big time in natural balance and musicality ,timbre, tone, mid range focus and vocal goodness…but technical performance wise it’s not superior to Yellow tuning nozzle, yet is more coherent and peaky in treble and upper mids.

VS LETSHUOER S12 2024 (1 planar-220$)

Again, S12 is more neutral and punchy, smoother yet as energetic in dynamic with a more evenly rounded balance.
Bass is as speedy but rounder and punchier, fuller and more textured and tactile. Sub bass is leaner, not as resonant yet bass lines are more correct in tone and fuller, we have more grunt for electric bass for ex. It’s thigher too, not as excited in attack-sustain vs Yellow nozzle and not as warm and muddy vs Red nozzle.
Mid range is fuller, lusher, more generous in lower mids presence so way more vocalicious for both male and female vocals compared to thinner, colder mids of ET142 which have more compressed presence even if S12 has well centered vocal-mids (not as wide as Frost for ex)
Note weight is heavier from piano to kick to synth to sax and vocal ex with S12.
Treble isn’t as airy and crisp, nor as sharp and aggressive with S12, it's not as brilliant for ultra highs instruments like cymbals, ringing etc.
But I find it more refined and natural still with S12, its fuller and leaner, percussions are rounder (yeah i abuse this word sorry)...less light and vividly peaky in attack than ET142.
Soundstage is wider, taller and deeper with ET142.
Imaging is near as good but instruments have more space for proper separation with ET142 (Yellow nozzle) and resolution is crisper, though in an ethereal way…

All in all, no doubt again S12 2024 is superior in natural balance, mid range is more focused and tonaly right, musicality is less artificial and oddly distant ... .it's not as aggressively technical, nor as crisp and clean, nor as spiky U shape. Treble heads and big soundstage lovers might prefer ET142.

CONCLUSION

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The Simgot ET142 is an IEM with bipolar persona that can offer 2 polar opposite sound signatures, one being vividly bright with open airy soundstage and other being warmer in balance with darker resolution and less clean macro dynamic.

This means you got 2 IEMs sound signature (or more since their 3 nozzles tuning choice in total) that are extremely different in dynamic balance. This time, unlike an IEM like Tanchjim Origin where the nozzle barely affects sound signature, the listener will certainly consider the sound different more than evident. And intense.

In the sens, one is aggressively bright in balance with speedy excited attack from bass boom to upper mids peak to upper treble crispness, the other, which use a thick foam filter in tuning nozzle, is more laid back in balance, thicker and lusher in timbre, more rounded with sustain warmth, yet notably darker in resolution and less airy and holographic in spatiality.

In the end, which one to choose? One thing for sure, technical performance of warmer tuning isn't worth the asking price, yet, it’s the one I find musical and not too fatiguing. At they end, i truely dislike musicality of all tuning nozzle...it explain difficulty to even concentrate on critical listening since I can't handle artificial sounding IEM. Or bad timbre.

If your more lucky with tuning appreciation dice than me, and perhaps are a treble head, the ET142 brighter tuning version is very competent in technical performance, from imaging to resolution and soundstage, it’s worthy of its price tag in this very version, which my ears can’t handle for multiple reason from artificial timbre to overly spicy upper mids and treble and too resonant and floppy and U shaped bass response.

All in all, this IEM feel like a prototype with potential that turn bad then semi-healed.

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


PS: I want to thanks Simgot for sending me this IEM out of the blue.

You can order the Simgot ET142 here:https://www.linsoul.com/products/si...118F6f8lMWFOBXj1aVY4-np4H0vLtjLtvv0CHmkCCy34T
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ywheng89

100+ Head-Fier
Simgot ET142 Review - Refinement at its best
Pros: Very good technicalities and non-fatiguing sound signature (YMMV)
Solid build quality
Bundled with high quality LC7 cable
Swappable nozzle that offers distinctive differences (personal fav is Blazed Titanium which is also the default nozzle)
Fun sound signature, Very minor planar timbre
Speedy bass with good control
Easy to drive
Cons: The upper mids might be too much for some
Prone to micro scratches (purely nitpicking)
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General/Packaging/Build/Comfort

Simgot is a brand that needs no introduction to the community. They have released several products that remain popular till today, namely the EA500 as well as the EW200, both which i have also reviewed and tested and like it a lot. The packaging of ET142 is similar in the sense of presentation and style to EM6L as well as EA500, within the box, it consists of a very high quality cable which is also sold separately, the LC7, it is modular, standard eartips as well as the tuning nozzles. The shell is all metal and the unit feels very solid, as with most mirror finish IEM, the ET142 is prone to fingerprints and micro scratches as well. The configuration is a 1 Planar+1PZT. In terms of comfort, I have no issues wearing the unit for long sessions (2-3 hours). The unit itself does feel very solid but when it is in your ears, you don’t feel heavy or uncomfortable at all

Gears used for this review
  • Earmen L-AMP
  • iFi Zen Dac 3
  • Hiby R4
  • ET142 with stock tips and Simgot LC7 cable 4.4

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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

Brief Sound Impression for the nozzles
  • Gold Plated (Yellow Ring) - Slightly thicker note weight compared to Blazed Titanium Nozzle, but the upper mids are more pronounced compared to the Blazed Titanium Nozzle, i am personally not overly sensitive in the upper mids region, but for those who are very sensitive to this range, it might be perceived as “bright” but it is actually not
  • Stainless Steel Red Ring - Slightly recessed upper mids giving it a tamer approach and less airy
  • Stainless Steel Black Ring - Slightly better treble extension compared to Stainless Steel Red Ring, bass and mids are more or less similar

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Sound Impression (Blazed Titanium Nozzle with Simgot LC7 Cable )
The overall tuning is leaning towards better treble extension to my ears. Very airy and it doesn’t sound dry nor lean. Despite sporting a hybrid driver config of Planar+PZT, the planar timbre is very minimal and the PZT is non-existent to my ears. Pairing it with Earmen’s latest tube amp L-AMP gives it a slight bump on the mid bass and note weight, very good synergy. The blazed titanium nozzle is by far my favourite among the rest

Bass
  • Despite sporting Planar as the main driver, the sub bass is really impressive, it rumbles when the track calls for it, when paired with Earmen’s L-AMP with bass boost on, the sub and mid bass are meaty and very fun to listen to
  • Very good bass texture and also speed, to be honest, they sound really close to a dynamic driver
  • The amount of bass is good enough for my library and tip rolling can help to slightly boost the bass as well, or alternatively bass boost on the L-Amp or Xbass on the Zen Dac 3 does work as well
Mids
  • Timbre sounds correct to me and the midrange is actually quite lush but i would prefer it to have a slightly thicker note weight, just nitpicking here
  • Vocal doesn’t sound recessed, both male and female vocal has good texture to it,doesn’t sound thin at all
  • Bass doesn’t bleed into the mids
  • In general,i find that the mids are smooth from the lower mids and slowly transitioning to an energetic upper mids, this seems to be Simgot’s signature based on my observation
Treble
  • The treble has very good extension, it has enough energy but not to the point where it is harsh and sibilant
  • Detail retrieval is very good for its class, very detailed yet it doesn’t sound clinical and overly analytical
  • Good amount of air that contributes the expansive soundstage
Soundstage/Imaging
  • ET142 has very good and expansive soundstage, good width and height perception as well as the depth
  • Imaging is good whereby the instruments can be pinpointed easily
Driveability
  • ET142 is very easy to drive, but it does scale with amplification, in terms of bass control and dynamics, personally, i prefer pairing it with a neutral or slightly warm source for a balanced and musical presentation, my favourite being the Earmen L-AMP which i believe i had mentioned several times above

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Comparison (Timeless II)
  • Timeless II is a single Planar with swappable nozzle, two of the nozzles are unique in the sense where the design looks like a bullet and also the sound
  • The overall tonality of Timeless II is slightly warmer due to a more relaxed treble presentation and less forward upper mids
  • Bass presentation on the Timeless II is speedy, it doesn’t have that kind of decay from ET142 which offers a little bit more fun
  • Nozzle on the Timeless II is slightly shorter which can be a problem for some, i personally don’t have issue with either one
  • In terms of technicalities, Timeless II leads in terms of resolution, but soundstage wise, ET142 has slightly bigger and out of your head kind of soundstage, detail retrieval both are more or less on par, same goes to imaging
Final Thoughts
Having tested several IEMs from the brand itself, namely the EA500, EM6l, EW200 as well as EW100P, they are all good in their own way and of course with some misses. The ET142 that I have reviewed today is no exception, a very unique driver combination and tuning is really very well done. Simgot even bundled the flagship cable LC7 with the ET142 to complete the package, and I think this is definitely a steal! All in all, ET142 is a very capable IEM that offers a good price performance ratio, you only need to take note if you are sensitive to the upper mids, but as always, do try it out if possible, trust your ears, till next time! Highly recommended!

*The ET142 are sent over by Simgot/Linsoul for the purpose of this review. I thank them for the support and opportunity as always

Simgot ET142 - Non Affiliated

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Headphones and Coffee

Previously known as Wretched Stare
I really like these
Pros: Wonderful and engaging tonality, tunable nozzles, amazing build quality.
Cons: Would have liked just a little more depth to the Bass but nothing major here.
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SIMGOT ET142:
Advanced Dual-Symmetric Magnetic Planar & PZT IEM
Dual-Symmetric Magnetic Planar Driver
Custom Multi-Layer PZT Driver
Blazed Titanium Tuned Nozzles
Four Nozzle Tuning
Premium LC7 Cable
CNC-Machined Housing
Technical Details:
Drivers 12.5mm planar magnetic + multi-layer piezoelectric ceramic
Impedance 14Ω ±15% (@1kHz)
Sensitivity 118dB/Vrms (@1kHz)
Frequency Response 8Hz–40kHz
Cable 732-core mixed oxygen-free copper & silver-plated Litz
Connectors 0.78mm 2-pin
Plugs Interchangeable 3.5mm single-ended & 4.4mm balanced

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Let's start with the.

The boxing experience was fantastic, with numerous accessories included, even compared to my much more expensive Moondrop Variations. The packaging appears premium, and the organization of items in smaller boxes led me to believe this was an expensive set. Well, done, Simgot!
The inclusion of four nozzles allows for significant tuning to your preference, and the standard nozzle bore enables the use of nozzles other sets and manufacturers.
The ET142 is built solid and best many other sets of higher cost with ease. It has a very thick and beautiful cable made from OFC and silver plated OFC lits. It is also modular making it compatible with all my devises and I really appreciate that feature.
The 142 also comes with 3 styles of tips unfortunately none are foam for those that use them.
You also get 4 tuning nozzles 2 are longer and there are replacement filters and rings also included adding to the longevity of this set. We round off the acessories with a nice case similar to the one with the EA1000.
As for isolation it was perfect with the medium nozzles. Fit for me was tight but comfortable, I fear smaller ears might have some difficulty because these are larger than average.
Equipment used:
Fossi audio SK02 and SK01, ifi Gryphon, TempoTec V6, Periodic audio Neon BT, Creative Soundblaster G8 and Fiio KA13
High quality MP3, DSD , FLAC + ALAC, and some streaming in LDAC.

My sound impressions after burn-in.

The Simgot ET142 was a joy to listen to right out of the box. I heard it needed burn-in, so even though I don't believe in such things, I did it for the sake of others.

We start with the lower end of the 142, the Bass was super controlled with excellent details and texture but is far from Bass head territory. The Sub-Bass carries the tones with that typical "PLANAR" Bass. The Bass line is neat and clean with good transient and depth but could use a little more emphasis, nothing that can't be resolved with Xbass if I really was in the need for it. That said, the Mid Bass is slightly behind the Sub but it's not lacking in texture quality and speed. There is enough Bass here for any type of music, double Bass drums sound fantastic. The overall bass analysis reveals a well-defined punch, adequate depth, speed, and quality befitting of a planar IEM.

The Midrange and vocals are greatly affected by the nozzles, ranging from a brighter and thinner response to a rich and meaty one. The ability to customize the mids are highly appreciated as it's like having a variety of IEM in one package.
Mids are focused and clear while with one nozzle there is a warmer signature this is not a set for the warm rich Harman found in other sets yet there is enough to be pleasing to my ears. Planar timbre is present but is not impeding my enjoyability as I like most planar sets. Vocals have good wight with the red ringed short nozzle but are always energetic and the titanium nozzle was overall enjoyable while I didn't care for the gold one as I thought it was too much. This is subjective and everyone hears differently. Midrange in general are clear and detailed with good energy and air, separation is far above average, and I would classify the 142 as a mid-centered IEM.

Treble can present as very airy and a nice upper limit with fine details and ample energy. Treble enthusiasts may prefer gold or titanium depending on their preference. I found the Titanium nozzle to be more my tastes when it came to upper tonality. Treble in general is open and spacious with clarity befitting of a flagship IEM, I could find no fault with how everything sounded listening to my eclectic collection of music.

Soundstage: Perfectly suited for the 142 the soundstage is wide and has a decent depth even if lesser than the width. Details are perfectly placed and not affected by congestion like some other IEM. Compared to the MoonDrop Variations I am testing out it is more detailed but far less holographic. I think both would work for gaming but perhaps the Better Bass and holographic stage would make the Variations a little better.
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In My opinion the Simgot ET142 is a versatile IEM with a very quality lower end an excellent Midrange performance and upper treble of superb clarity, with class leading technical performance and while the 142 needs to be tuned towards your preference it should be decent for most people "after burn in" I can understand some of the points of negative but with the right , nozzle, filter, and tips these can be amazing!

Redcarmoose

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Variation of the Harmon tuning with workable changes due to 4 different nozzle choices
Slightly big SIMGOT AUDIO build at 13 grams each
Comes with $69.99 TOTL 732 core LC7 cable with 4.4mm and 3.5mm modular plugs
Inside comes a big 12.5mm Planar and separate PZT driver
Fun, the ET142 is a fun IEM overall
3 sets of unique designed SIMGOT ear-tips, a first for creation of the black ear-tips and red ear-tips
Smooth and airy tonality with the option to boost the upper midrange/treble with nozzle change-outs
Speedy tight and detailed Planar bass action
Solid note-weight and realistic density aplenty
Big bold midrange/treble offering good separation winning out even from the 7Hz Timeless IEM
Clear PZT treble with a smooth natural brightness
Great Hybrid separation and imaging!
Wicked good and groovy pace, 10/10 on the groove-a-matic meter!
Not too warm or too cool

Four Nozzle Tuning
1) Blazed Titanium Nozzle (Transparent Silicone Ring): Extended treble and airiness for classical and instrumental focus.

2) Gold-Plated Copper Nozzle (Yellow Silicone Ring): Warm and balanced tuning, perfect for versatile listening.

3) Stainless Steel Red-Circle Short Tube Nozzle: A refined sound profile with enhanced clarity and precision.

4) Stainless Steel Black-Circle Short Tube Nozzle: Smooth and dynamic tuning with a balanced response across the frequencies.
Cons: Needs burn-in, really a must with this IEM
Not the most authoritative low-end bass, yet fast, fun and agile for what it is
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The SIMGOT ET142 Universal
Advanced Dual-Symmetric 12.5mm Magnetic Planar & PZT IEM
Redcarmoose Labs Sunday February 16th, 2025

This is my 15th SIMGOT AUDIO review. Yep, I have reviewed 12 IEMs, an aftermarket cable and a Dongle so far. And just when you think SIMGOT’s creativity is coming to a close, they pull some new trick out of their proverbial hat. It’s funny too, as I thought that I have covered most of the SIMGOT line, but no? They make a super wide assortment of gear. They make the ET1000 full-size headphone, the King Wonder TOTL DLC IEM, which I have never heard. Yet this SIMGOT ET142 is unique too. Yep, a Dual-Symmetric Magnetic Planar & PZT combo. In fact, remember the ET1000 full-size headphone I was just mentioning? That came out six years ago and it was a Planar also.

Only now this IEM is a Hybrid, yep a Planar and a PZT……….all put into the sexiest shell you or I have ever seen. This machined alloy shell is really the perfect size, and if you think it may fit well inside your ears, you would have guessed right!

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I’m bringing up the build ideas and unique SIMGOT ET142 shape right at the start! This particular IEM IS different. So not only is the ET142 built well, it is shaped so that it can accommodate a few different nozzles and nozzle lengths. You get two longer nozzles and two stubby short nozzles. Oh, and you get the SIMGOT AUDIO LC7 modular cable too.

I’m bringing all this up because after burn-in the tonality of the ET142 allowed me to play around with a few different nozzles. Yep, most all of them worked out providing me extra freedom to tune the ET142 to my mood or whim. The basic tuning is adjusted to the SIMGOT-Golden 2023 target curve. Yet this 12.5mm Planar Magnetic and multilayer PZT driver allow you to explore many variations, that along with very different styles of ear-tips, basically allows for research in tone, if you want.

What I’m trying to say is the combo of nozzles and ear-tips offered quite the leeway to learn what we have, with maybe only one nozzle……..the “Short-Reds” combo was a little boring and upper treble too diminished? This was my experience anyway…….that the “Short-Reds” were a little lackluster, but remember you can still change ear-tips too!

And the ear-tips, a first for SIMGOT AUDIO, especially the two sets anyways!

So really to keep this simple, you have a great balance of replay………..adding to finding just the right blend of both brightness and smoothness. The nozzles 4 change-outs are fast and easy! And……there are some new black wide-bore ear-tips that allow you to find a large stage with expansions in every direction!

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The SIMGOT LC7 included modular cable:
Back in January of 2024 I reviewed the LC7 aftermarket cable, but as cables go I never quit learning about the LC7………..even up until today. The LC7 costs $69.99 by itself, and maintains the drama by offering both Oxygen Free Copper (OFC) and Silver-plated wires, plus a whopping 732 cores.......allows for stage size to occur, as well as never really coloring the sound in one area. Though the personality is a smoother upper midrange and added lower midrange heft. Then finally the LC7 adds a smoother treble experience, which makes it very well rounded. I have used the LC7 Flagship cable in countless IEM reviews since I got it, and it is yours (almost free) along with the ET142. It is safe to say the LC7 is one of my most favorite cables ever, it just goes with so many different IEM tones.

Upon first getting the LC7 and ET142 I kinda figured SIMGOT was looking for a smoother cable to adjust down many of their upper midrange energies and 8kHz boost the ET214 has. Coincidentally SIMGOT added this smooth yet color-free tone to help maybe with an IEM like the SIMGOT EA500 Universal IEM.

Here with the ET142 the LC7 TOTL cable finds that sweet-spot between just enough brightness, while still smoothing out any glare, making for long listening times and comfort, a style of well-roundedness so to speak! Going with any musical genre and tone!

The Ear-tips:
Crazy as it seems, this is the very first I have ever seen these “donut” black ear-tips. While the clear look like regular included SIMGOT ear-tips, these both red ear-tips and the new black ear-tips are very unique. It could even be said of the black, that they form a short stubby shape, that allows for maximum size dispersion and stage imaging. Really this style of ear-tip I often gravitate to due to careful bass attenuation and maximum stage placement. And sure enough I’m doing this review with the stubby Black ring nozzles and Black ear-tips. I love them both!

Packaging comes with extra foams and colored rings too, especially important if you loose the red or black ring off those respected nozzles!
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Nozzle changes:
1) Blazed Titanium Nozzle: Seemingly the brightest second only to the Gold Nozzles……offering extended treble and instrument clarity. Neither Gold nor Titanium nozzles have any foams inside.

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Note: Only the black and red ringed nozzles hold the black foam dampening inserts.

2) Gold Nozzles: More balanced than the Titanium, though still revealing of upper midrange peak and 8kHz treble peak.

3) Red Ring Nozzles: Offering 100% of smoothness in comparison to the other three nozzles, even going so far as to diminish the upper midrange peak.


4) My favorite: The Black Ring Nozzles: Different from the Titanium and Gold Nozzles, as they allowed for a smoother tone rendition, yet not as overly smooth (read boring) as the Red Rings.

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Comparisons:
Out of hundreds of IEMs to compare side-by-side I’m pretty proud of myself for these choices.
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Top row: Raptgo Hook-X, EA1000 and Timeless II.
Bottom row: ET142

1) I went back to pull-out the Raptgo Hook-X first. A $239.00 Planar and PZT driver Hybrid that is kinda hard to purchase now. This was chosen as in the same price range and a Hybrid Planar, plus I haven’t heard it for a few years and was curious about how it would hold-up.

2) Next I went with SIMGOT’s own EA1000. Again priced similarly at $219.99….the EA1000 has a choice of nozzles and a single DD with a passive radiator. Probably I chose it as the bass section is really good and detailed along with supreme coherency, which is often standard fare for the regular DD builds. But it was the added resolution that beat out so many of Simgot’s down-line that had me choose it!


3) Finally I went with another Planar, the 7Hz Timeless II. Here we are again visiting the almost exact same price point at $229.00 and a single 14.5mm Planar to find out how they compare. I will tell you right now, this is an epic IEM in so many ways, so much so that it is a standout IEM! I mean I’m really pulling no punches to bring the Timeless II into the side-by-side competition!

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1) Raptgo Hook-X:
Here I’m using the WM1A with the included black wide-bore ear-tips, and LC7 cable in 4.4mm. Lucky only my dogs are around to see this silly fool cry. The Raptgo Hook-X is just like I remember it from way back in April of 2022!

Klangwelt
Here and Why
Cold War Child

44.1kHz - 24bit

Timestamps only pertain to digital file, not video.
Look, I feel like I should not have neglected the Hook-X for so many years? Also these wide-bore ET142 ear-tips are bringing it today! Oh, and the LC7 cable too. If you remember the Hook-X is an open-back headphone! And sure enough many of the tell-tale characteristics are apparent here. The wide stage, the extra subdued bass……….and this slight PZT static-toned, like fluidness that was and is the Hook-X signature personality. Yep, just as I remember it to be. Yet going back to the ET142 we are now greeted with extras that maybe for some will be expected, though surprising none-the-less. At 13 grams the ET142 is substantially more weight than the Hook-X at 6 grams each. That extra heft is also noted in ET142 note-weight too, yep a more dense placement of note encounter. While the Hook-X is slightly thinner in generation, the stage is actually bigger with extra-air and separation found. It is just along with the lesser Hook-X grounding, we have a boost in efficiency too. Hook-X items are faster and hold their very own position in the stage, slightly farther out. While folks have already commented on the ET142 being for the most part midrange ability, yet this Hook-X takes the cake, being even more midrange, yet thinner in nature. Both IEMs are lesser (than average) in bass texture and the Hook-X even lesser in bass amount (along with what texture is there)…….being open-back. Sure the black included ET142 wide-bore ear-tips are not working in the Hook-X’s favor here…….lol. Still I’m going with them as the Hook-X is a great trip down memory lane, despite the drawbacks. After 4 side-by-sides I am now at a point to make some conclusions. Probably the greatest thing the ET142 does is add a more filled-in center. That filled-in center is in-fact holding extra details over the Hook-X, which is not saying much, but there is a difference nonetheless. It is in-fact that both IEMs have a slight air of planar-timbre, but both are what I would call only slight, and lovable still!

It is going back to the start of my side-by-sides that there is this added drama of density the ET142 holds inside its heart. This ET142 realism, despite the timbre, and a fastness in its own way, is on par with what the Hook-X speedy creations do………just again more real and pure in ET142 nature. To where really having both has its value, as very few IEMs do the stage and outer creations the Hook-X does nonchalantly. Wow, this was so fun to do!

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2) SIMGOT AUDIO "Fermat" EA1000:
Look, that last side-by-side was epic, and I could have written a few more paragraphs, except if you ever see the Hook-X on the used market for a good price pick-it up. That it still holds its own in a way. Really much of the same character I found as when I first reviewed it. Yet, now drama is in the air. Why? Well the EA1000 is nothing to mess with. As far as sound goes, from memory it is better into reproducing bass textures and is an overachiever in so many ways.

EA1000:
10mm Purple Gold SDPGD technology driver:
Here at 11 grams the EA1000 is not only more low-weight, but noticeably smaller in size. Here I’m using the standard red rubber “silver” standard Harmon target, like they came with. Now not only do we meet with a more detailed and textured bass, we are also rewarded with better timbre and imaging inside that timbre of a more slightly relaxed nature. Yep, the EA1000 is truly all that. Yet while the ET142 being harder to drive, once you guesstimate an equal volume, we are rewarded with better separation and a more separated stage. Of course we can guess this beforehand being 2 drivers and an ET142 Hybrid creation. Yet, it is that very displacement of how we have a Piezo treble, creating this extra separation, that while the bass is less textured than the EA1000 it is faster and maybe more nimble? More extra segmented into a separate area of the stage, and I like that, especially when combined with the added operation of the Piezo-electric. It is this Piezo-electric creating an extra float of images, both more in-your-face clarity and speed of creation. That this extra out-front has you questioning the timbre, yet the timbre is way better than you would guess, yet still there being the EA1000 has slightly better timbre, but not as segregated in focus. And yes, the EA1000 bass is slightly denser and of a more real character, and still fast but not as fast. It is this get-out-of-the-way-ness that is maybe the Planar character that is offering the speed here, in comparison to the EA1000. That in itself makes the EA1000 seem thicker and overall slightly more real, except missing the speed to be found in the ET142. Even the bass that while holding less density inside the ET142 stage, also holds a thinness that is more out-of-the-way making more room for the midrange and treble of the ET142 to come alive. The ET142 is more dense than the Hook-X, but less dense than the EA1000.

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3) 7Hz Timeless II:
At 6 grams each the Timeless II is still lower weight. And really in many ways the Timeless II is the quintessential Planar creation today. Being the Timeless II is pure and natural holding what we come to the Planar table for in the first place. The Timeless II holds perfect expected Planar character, and the tuning makes use of those Planar ideas to really bring it all to the table. So in many ways the EA1000 was the perfect DD choice to use in today's side-by-sides, and this Timeless II Planar is one of the very best of the year to bring about some competition to our ET142.

Timeless II:
With the regular Timeless II gold nozzles we are right away gifted with more sub-bass. It’s the 12.5mm Planar in the ET142 against the 14.5mm Planar in the Timeless II! Sure this is a thing, only the Timeless II is really noted more for its bass character, and nothing I know can beat it, especially at Timeless II $229.00 Planar bass, why even try here. Where the style of Planar ideas, and PZT ideas on offer with the ET142 are approaching the midrange in a more separated way. That in this Cold War Child song the high-hats are relatively the same, only the midrange of the ET142 is notably more forward holding enriched detail, so much so that it makes the Timeless II almost sleepy in nature. While the Timeless II holds an extra dose of cohesiveness that just won’t stop, the extra midrange ability held inside the ET142 mids goes one step farther to create realism and imaging details, not found in the Timeless II.

Music:
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Klangwelt
Here and Why
Cold War Child

44.1kHz - 24bit

Timestamps only pertain to digital file, not video.
Here is the thing. I just went through a bunch of back and forth movements in the side-by-sides using this exact same song. So what better to go for a deep dive in learning about how it is with the SIMGOT AUDIO ET142? A big part of learning about the ET142 is learning about how each nozzle change-out affects the tone. I spent multiple days finally coming to terms as to how the nozzles work. That both the Gold and Titanium nozzles have extra nozzle length and zero foam inside, that the short red ring nozzle and black ring nozzle hold foam inserts. Now normally you would guess that Electronic Music would be a genre where the upper frequencies would be a challenge, though I found this not to be the case. It was in-fact the (Gold and Titanium Nozzle) 2.5kHz energy inside of Rock music that had me recoil to the black ring nozzles in the end. And after a few days of back and forth nozzle and ear-tip changes I found the Black Ring Nozzle with Black Wide-bore included ear-tips to be the most well rounded for all genres. This set-up I will use for the remainder of the review.

Cold War Child:
That finally coming to terms as to the ET142 tone and how it is represented, there is a relaxed idea that you are both getting enough treble, and stage activities, that you can enjoy ET142 playback too at multiple volume levels. That out-of-the-box the ET142 really needed a week of burn-in, that no matter what the ET142 was both grainy and bright, not holding the extra bass smoothness which really is the cat’s meow at this point. And sure there are many listeners out there, maybe those that could appreciate the Gold Nozzles with this song, and I could too, only both the Gold and Titanium Nozzles didn’t give me the well roundedness to really playback any genre and any volume level like I can now. Plus it should be noted that the first grouping of about ten reviewers received an early ET142 set-up with-out the two red and black short nozzles. So any early reviews can be pretty much disregarded as SIMGOT AUDIO needed to finalize the ET142 tune.

Cold War Child:
This song showcases a multitrack into, with piano coming-in showing the main theme at 00:36. It is this theme that is easily remembered from past listening sessions. At 00:53 the bass takes notice. Now what you may guess by the band's name Klangwelt, is that it is a little like the other German Band before it, Kraftwerk. Truth is that even though Kraftwerk did OSTs, the one-man-band of Klangwelt (Gerald Arend) is more cinematic in ideas. Klangwelt means “World of Sound” in German. As such the creation here is more along the lines of game music and cinema music, while still holding that beat, there is much more emphasis on the melody IMO. At just 01:00 we are gifted with a multitrack of samplers holding a chorus of vocals in the distance. At 01:06 there is an added volume of both bass and chorus attacks. And finally at 01:10 the hi-hat rhythm is found in-place. At 01:25 the piano once more takes the melody into focus…….but it is at this point that we really find the sub-bass of the ET142 to be more than adequate. That it is this careful use of Planar volume displacement that is of the gift. This changing amounts of fast in-and-out volume ideas that Planar IEMs do effortlessly that becomes why we are here. And really no better song to showcase such ability.

Finally at 01:42 the main beat is heard. Such emphasis almost makes me take back my thoughts about cinematic melody being the songs ideas. But truly it is this balance of forces, that both held at once the beat and the melody which brings the mood! That and these giant drum percussion effects at 01:50 that have no business being as upfront as they are, but they are! It is these effects that truly make the song and the ability of the ET142 to go along with this program. Nothing is too heavy nor too low-on weight…….just right! Oh, and the feeling of transients which is taking place. At 03:01 that same big beat leaves us. What we are left with is both the keys and various sound effects. At 03:18 the beat starts again. Finally we are introduced to a big synth, a giant focus of the song………..and you and I know everyone was waiting for this. A doppler………almost effect and finally the piano keys are also more focused, and of contrasts here, becoming all they were planned to be, all grown-up in essence. The way this music works is a series of instruments introduced then pulled, then introduced again at a louder volume, making the whole idea, even smaller ideas that were already used at the start work again……..like becoming closer and closer to the music.

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KMFDM
Paradise
Oh My Goth
44.1kHz - 24bit


Timestamps only pertain to digital file, not video.
Here we are given a basic Industrial Rock vibe, and maybe more than any other song chosen today we hear the true well-rounded-ness on offer? Most of us into IEMs can appreciate when we land upon an IEM that does it all, all the while still unique and original like the drivers of the ET142 encase. This personality is held in being able to do the thunder at the beginning, at 00:02 as well as the high pitched sound at 00:11 right after the wolf howl. When the bass hits at the 00:15 mark there is little argument of it being authoritative enough. That while slightly missing texture in comparison to the rumble of a dynamic driver, it is the speed and extra detail around the edges that remind us we are in Planar Town. At the 00:30 mark and when at 00:31 when Lucia Cifarelli’s vocals hit that we realize all is well. That this idea of playback is slightly faster as a technicality offered, and I like that. That all of a sudden it is the agility and speed is why we are here. Besides that it is the note-weight. You see, not always are we gifted with both, you either have note-weight weighted down but not agileness, but here we have both!

Plus the greatest thing here is we finally have forward and crisp vocals, I mean how would an IEM be without the vocal character, both detailed and separated……to boot! I mean to brag a little, Lucia Cifarelli’s vocals sound fully natural and captivating here……..perfect! The little accents she places on words, the volume changes, it is all here for the taking! And if we get all that (you already know) we also get the great vocal reverbs found in a song like "Oh My Goth"! The panning, the vocal fall-offs, it is all here for the examination. And while sure I love the vocals, but there is a trait that I almost can’t put into words, it revolves around the interplay of the bass and the drums here. This groove is what the song is about and has spellbound me since the time I first laid ears on this track. Yep, the rhythm that is infectious and memorable, as it is what I keep coming back to the song for, call it the soul of the music for lack of a better word? Yet we have it included here, it all its glory! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️


I mean I’m sure I sound like a mumbling rock maniac, because I am. It is just this very song is so much the highlight of the review. This is due to the quickest bass and midrange action, the ET142 ability to fly high! To get you that pace, the rhythm and the groove to take your heart away.

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Hans Zimmer
Wonder Woman 1984 (sketches)
No Hero Is Born from Lies
44.1kHz - 24bit

Timestamps only pertain to digital file, not video.

Probably the one major thing that gets me right off is how this bass is done. That normally is not what you come to an OST for? But it is really not just the bass, but this whole song comes through as heard for the balance it contains. Plus, this balance has to do with agility in that the sounds here, even at the start are fast and in place. I know I sound like I’m repeating myself, only the ET142 holds a quality of transients at even lower volume and higher volume. To where I have heard this song a multitude of different ways, some ways more treble centric, other ways more physical in the bass department, but where the ET142 takes the cake is in the speedy midrange and bass and treble. That there is a unique separation here that’s so darn entertaining!

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Timestamps only pertain to digital file, not video.
Gdanian
Induction
Shield Emitter (feat. Tineidae)
44.1kHz - 24bit

I’m going to use the words “clarity of bass” and really I’m not sure what that exactly means? It is that the bass here is full, but it is transparent too, it is never blocking a thing. That is the only way I can describe it? Sure Planar IEMs are aways noted for offering layers of detail, but the other additive is the PZT driver finding extra areas of detail and separation at hand. It is like looking into glass, as the only way I can describe it, as each layer here has such fast dispersions, that the layer simply gets out of the way for a new layer to arrive. The bass is the very definition of visceral and deep, while still somehow making room for the rest of the musical images? Probably what I’m trying to say is how the bass makes its very own stage formation. And sure I have heard this song so many ways, yet this exact way seems totally correct and worth the price of admission? This is normally a heavy bass song in the end anyway, only here today the bass is sculpted and never overpowering the mids or treble for that matter. But it is the exact bass tone that I’m smitten with, so much so that I recommend this song to anyone who gets the ET142………..it is just that good. At 00:14 to 00:15 we can kinda hear the detailed bass attack. What I mean is the bass tones is decayed between right and left and somehow the ET142 accents that time delay, finding the attack edge to be found both detailed and slightly delayed from right to left. This is the bass magic here, in that the bass is not a thump, but a carefully arranged and orchestrated phenomena. Again we can hear into the bass notes! “Clarity of bass”! At 00:15 the Blade Runner synth takes precedence to become a song tool to take this number one more step over the top! And……..again just like the bass detail, we seem to hear into the synth lead, to hear the center, to hear the edges of where it goes into the stage. …………..and finally the decays, the glorious decays found. Truly I could have never guessed that this particular song would play-out so great. But this is what we have, and to hold! And in many ways this feeling is a lot like the first song, in that as luck would have it the ET142 is just darn good with synth music? This must be due to the individual layers being formed, I guess that is what it is, what else would it be? Plus nothing is too scathing or bright, or too dull, as the tones are right where they are meant to be!

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Hans Zimmer & Junkie XL
Batman v Superman OST
New Rules
96kHz - 24bit

Timestamps only pertain to digital file, not video.


OK, I’ll confess……this has been a song I have used many times with the ET142. Why? I just like the authority and size of display. It is also a song I use to understand bass. As such there are Timpani drums that start to take hold of emotions………I never get tired of this display. And at 01:08 the addition of synth bass line and strings take the cake………….but there is a boom. Yep, a big boom that I have used for years and years to judge bass happenings. You may call me a boring listener, but this is the money here, the ability for the ET142 to take hold of this drop right at 01:38. Boom!

It is this single area of both detail and decay……..this arrival of sonic candy that shows just what’s up. Why? Well many IEMs do this with more flamboyance, but that is not what I’m looking for. Nope, I want the outside and the inside of the note. Sure DDs offer more texture, but we are taking note of the bass speed, the speed and definition, but more than that we want to see into the decay………to fish in these clear waters and watch the sound fall off. Yep, it is all here. Now maybe a little less authority than the Timeless II does it, a little farther back-set. But the money here is that there is finite detail being held, and I like that, no I love that. Right after (the drop) there are other musical additives which showcase all the other consistent details held with-in this song…….the strings, the synth washes……….because a drop is only as good as the supporting elements around it to add stage and contrasts. Yep, the full-ness of light and dark here, the ability of the ET142 to grab hold of every element provided here and make them real. It is simply the decays of the Timpani, that they hold density and enough texture to be found real sounding. That right at 01:38 the synth line still is heard uninterrupted and clear as day, right beside the drop!

Case:
A magnetic latch as well as an under-lid pocket to hold your valuables, such as the other modular plug.
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Build:
Basically two piece besides the nozzles. Here we gain added comfort in that (if you look) we are gaining nozzle length, which seems to allow these “donut” black ear-tips to be long enough, with either the longer nozzles or the shorter nozzles. There is a vent right at the 2Pins and another vent on the back. Then a gold screw on the faceplate. These are definitely the bigger side of what SIMGOT has made, if not the biggest example of an IEM, but fitment is remarkable, both in noise occlusion and comfort! Each set of nozzles can be screwed on very easy, as is the cable joining of the LC7 cable.

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Conclusion:
In the Head-Fi Community the SIMGOT ET142 got off to a rocky start. Yet, the end is what counts, the end sound. SIMGOT before the ET142 was officially released added a new choice of nozzles and ear-tips. These may not look like much of a change, yet this was all that was needed and created a well rounded tone that became accessible to everyone. The ET142 is a success in that number one it plays all musical genres well, it fits like a million, and offers a great value for what it is. SIMGOT never made a Planar IEM before, and while they have offered PZT treble providers before, never have they blended the two technologies together into such success. Even if you already own the similarly priced SIMGOT EA1000, the ET142 offers something refreshing and new. Even if you are sedated to hear the new 7Hz Timeless II, the Timeless II doesn’t offer the midrange found in the ET142, in reality the ET142 offers advanced ergonomics and natural sound occlusion, plus the ET142 is simply darn comfortable to wear!

Sure the ET142 is slightly more in size and weight than all the IEMs in comparison today, yet the build is just so darn sexy and comfortable! Just look at it, for crying out loud! There are new designed ear-tips which not only offer a dramatic stage, they increase imaging. That while the actual nozzles may be some of the longest yet in SIMGOT history, there is reason for this, and maybe the ET142 will fit more people even better? All and all I wholeheartedly recommend the new ET142, how could I not? I recommend the ET142 mainly because it walks that line between technicality and musicality, it really does! When you factor in the 4 different nozzles offerings, really there is no way other than to find your sound and simply blend with the music at hand!

http://www.simgot.com

SIMGOT ET142
Advanced Dual-Symmetric Magnetic Planar & PZT IEM

  • Dual-Symmetric Magnetic Planar Driver
  • Custom Multi-Layer PZT Driver
  • Blazed Titanium Tuned Nozzles
  • Four Nozzle Tuning
  • Premium LC7 Cable
  • CNC-Machined Housing
Technical Details
Drivers 12.5mm planar magnetic + multi-layer piezoelectric ceramic
Impedance 14Ω ±15% (@1kHz)
Sensitivity 118dB/Vrms (@1kHz)
Frequency Response 8Hz–40kHz
Cable 732-core mixed oxygen-free copper & silver-plated Litz
Connectors 0.78mm 2-pin
Plugs Interchangeable 3.5mm single-ended & 4.4mm balanced

USD $219.99
https://www.linsoul.com/products/simgot-et142

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:
The SIMGOT AUDIO ET142 Universal IEM has had a total of 7 days of burn-in.

Disclaimer:
I would like to thank Fia Lam of SIMGOT AUDIO for the SIMGOT AUDIO ET142 review sample.

Disclaimer:
These are one person's ideas and concepts, your results may vary.

Equipment Used:
Sony WM1A Walkman DAP MrWalkman’s Firmware 4.4mm balanced
Sony WM1Z Walkman DAP MrWalkman’s Firmware 4.4mm balanced
Sony TA-ZH1ES DAC/AMP Firmware 1.03 in 4.4mm balanced
Electra Glide Audio Reference Glide-Reference Standard "Fatboy" Power Cord
Sony Walkman Cradle BCR-NWH10
AudioQuest Carbon USB
Samsung Phone 3.5mm
HiBy R3 II DAP 4.4mm
ifi Go blu Bluetooth Amplifier and DAC 4.4mm
ifi hip dac 3 Amplifier and DAC 4.4mm

Packaging:
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Ceeluh7
Ceeluh7
I really enjoy this set man. Nice work on this review. When the ET142 first got delivered I felt the same as everyone else but the new nozzles really did transform my feelings. It was fun writing about for sure. Anyways, nice work as always.
Redcarmoose
Redcarmoose
@Ceeluh7
Thank-you, yes silky and fun are the words here!
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ICYGENIUS

Head-Fier
SIMGOT AUDIO ET142 review of hybrid iem by ICYGENIUS 🎧
Pros: Excellent appearance and very rich equipment
The ability to customize the sound using different nozzles from warm and neutral presentation to energetic and bright
Excellent lush and deep sub bass
Very punchy and fast mid-bass, planar precision really surprises
Overall bass reproduction is transparent and clear
Lower mids are very warm and weighty
The upper mid area is neutral and subtle when using short nozzles, but can become more energetic and bold when using long nozzles
Midrange timbral fidelity is excellent and transients are fast and precise
The treble is quite detailed and transparent and sounds quite smooth with short nozzles, but with long nozzles the sound is brighter and more technical (pick the one you like best)
The soundstage is very expansive and layered
The separation of instruments at a high level, everything is as clear and accurate as possible in the sound space, you can easily understand where the vocal sounds where the instrument plays and where the kick drum is located
Cons: for me no, choose a nozzles and decide on the sound you want to get (from bright and energetic to warmer and neutral) and just enjoy
- Introduction -
Hello friends, today in the review we will consider hybrid headphones from the company Simgot for 219$.
And they come in a small box with a very nice design, there is an image of the headphones themselves, at the top there is a company logo, and here is the name of this new model ET142.
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Well, here are the technical specifications and for the sound in these headphones is responsible for the planar driver with a diameter of 12.5 mm and piezoelectric driver, which is quite an unusual decision to put it here and what is most interesting is that before this configuration we have not met anywhere else, well, the sensitivity of these headphones is 118 db and they received impedance 14 ohm
and despite this I can say that this is not the easiest to swing headphones, all the same requirements from the planar driver is immediately felt here, therefore so please consider this point before purchasing.

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- Let's take a look at what's included -
1.Branded case.
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2.Quality Certificiate.
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3.User manual.
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4.Short nozzles with red and black silicone ring.
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5.Golden nozzles.
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6.Titanium nozzles.
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7.Sponges.
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8.Yellow and trasparent rings.
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9.Red and black rings.
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10.High quality audio cable SIMGOT LC7 with 2 pin connectors and 4.4/3.5 mm jack.
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11.Three sets of silicone eartips.

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12.IEM.
The headphones are made entirely of metal, they are quite large and have, in my opinion, a very pleasant appearance and shape, and on the front part they have the Simgot company logo and a golden screw, and just below is the inscription Simgot.
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And here there is a standard 2 pin connector for cable connection and the first hole for compensation, and on the inner part there is an inscription ET142 and indicates the configuration of the radiators used in these headphones there is also a channel marking and a second hole for compensation.
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And here nozzles in these headphones as you have already guessed they are removable and you can put here as shorter which have a warmer and more neutral sound with a more pronounced bass, so you can put a golden one which corresponds to the purpose of Simgot 2023 and has a more energetic and brighter sound, or you can put this very beautiful titanium nozzles which has as to me a more balanced sound but still with well preserved energy and emotionality in the midrange delivery.
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Well and sit in the ears of these headphones perfectly well I had no problems with the fit, despite the fact that these headphones turned out to be quite large, but that with the complete ear cushions that with any other there is both excellent sound insulation and very even deep fit, especially when using long nozzles, although with short in this regard, too, everything is fine.
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- Tuning and Conception -
Well now let's talk about how the Simgot ET142 hybrid headphones sound and this is how the graph of the frequency response of these headphones looks like when using the titanium nozzles and the gold one, that is, the difference between them on measurements is not big, and in both cases we have 11dB of bass boost, relaxed lower midrange, and the gain in the upper midrange is closer to 2 kHz, and except that with the gold nozzles is a little bit more, but by ear I also hear that the treble with the gold nozzle will be more, that is, with the gold nozzle is even more airy and energetic pitch, but with the titanium one is a little bit less bright in the treble, and about the same in the midrange.
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But of course it is possible that such energetic and more daring and familiar to everyone Simgot's tuning will not suit someone, and in this case two short nozzles with red ring and with black ring come to our aid, and here the difference between them is more noticeable and when using a short nozzles with a red ring we have much less accent in the upper midrange, which makes the sound in this range as warm and neutral as possible, i.e. without any added vigor in comparison with the titanium nozzle and even more so with the golden nozzle.
And also it may seem to someone that the headphones began to sound too warm and neutral, and here for so to say for more balance and preserving a little energy in the upper midrange just perfectly suits nozzle with black rubber band, which is almost perfect for my target, well now let's analyze the sound of these headphones in more detail, and I'll tell you right away that mostly I listened to them with a short nozzle with black ring, and only sometimes for comparison switched to gold and titanium nozzle.

- Low Frequencies -
The bass in the Simgot ET142 is something special. In these headphones, the bass is very powerful, expressive and, most importantly, with almost unbelievable clarity and speed. Thanks to the use of a planar driver, the bass in these headphones has a very characteristic density and detail, making it not only deep, but also very precise and transparent.
And I hope that all audiophiles know that one of the key features of planar drivers is their ability to reproduce low frequencies with lightning-fast attack.The ET142's bass sounds incredibly fast without losing any density or structure, even in the heaviest and most dynamic tracks. And it lets you hear the smallest details, such as the texture of bass guitars or light micro accents in drums.
And interestingly, despite its depth, the bass in these headphones does not overpower the sound, but rather adds the necessary fullness to it, while remaining very transparent and clear.
Yes, and punch and percussion here at the height of literally any track, where there is an emphasis on percussion or bass parts, will sound in these headphones very confidently, all the same 11 dB of bass boost is not a joke.And most importantly, the initial attack of the bass is clearly distinguished here, and its here is this exuberant pressure is felt without any unnecessary “dirt” or blurriness.
As everything is in place here: energy, and focus on the impact, and controlled density and most importantly the necessary amount of bass, which should be enough for most listeners.
And if you like music with very active and more pronounced lows, for example listening to hip-hop and modern electronics with heavy rock compositions, then ET142 will not disappoint you. Here you will get not only real power, but also all the accuracy and clarity of sound, which is what distinguishes planar drivers from other types of drivers. The bass in these headphones doesn't just fill space easily, it adds to the soundscape in a way that usually eludes other headphones.
And overall, these headphones with their planar driver offer us not just any bass, but the kind of bass, the kind of bass that requires precision, speed and noticeable expressiveness, with excellent dynamics and clarity in the delivery. And all this combination makes ET142 sound in this range not just powerful, but also maximally controlled and detailed, and I will say that here they reminded me a lot of Simgot EM10, which were also not modest headphones in reproduction of low frequencies.

- Mid Frequencies -
And the midrange in Simgot ET142 is that rare case when warmth and vigor combine perfectly to create a near-perfect listening balance. And in these headphones, the midrange sounds quite restrained, but still retains its emotion and dynamism. And as I told you earlier thanks to the short nozzles, which contributes a lot to this range, you get a more calm, and literally smooth delivery with a certain warmth that wraps you up and just takes you into the music, and in this case any music is perceived very organically, without any unnecessary aggression, but at the same time does not lose its embedded energy, which is very important, as these headphones do not go into some boring and dry monitors sound.
However, it is worth noting that when using a titanium or gold nozzles, the sound of these headphones already becomes much more driving and bold, and everyone who has listened to at least one model of headphones of this brand I think now understand exactly what I mean.And the midrange with long nozzles become more energetic, with more pronounced dynamics, where each element of sound and transients are highlighted even more clearly and distinctly.
And this variant of pitch gives more brightness and expression in vocal and instrumental parts, making the pitch more expressive and with an emphasis on drive and emotion.
As the instruments and voices sound noticeably richer and more forward in the construction of the sound scene, which is especially suitable for genres where it is important just like this more active, and emotional presentation, and lovers of just such a sound should just appreciate it more, and if you like more restrained warm presentation, then we can safely use short nozzles, and I think that it will be quite easy for you to decide here, a couple of days you listened to one and immediately write down your feelings and what you pay attention to, and then listen with another and then you can safely decide where and what you like more, and I advise you to listen for a couple of days and maybe even a week, not a couple of minutes, because for a couple of minutes you will not understand what you like more, plus do not forget that the planar driver requires a long warm-up time, so to think about a better setup for you here is definitely necessary and you should not rush in this regard.
To summarize, the midrange of the Simgot ET142 is a perfect combination of warmth, detail and dynamics, with the ability to adapt the sound to your preferences thanks to the different types of drivers. Vocals and instruments sound very natural, with a good sense of space and detail, while remaining as open and expressive in their presentation as possible.

- High Frequencies -
Well, the high frequencies in Simgot ET142 have surprisingly very calm and restrained character. They are not aggressive, not harsh, and most importantly not bright when using a short nozzles, but with a golden nozzles, the pitch in these headphones goes to a much brighter and more technical pitch, the same applies to the titanium nozzles, but personally I personally high frequencies in these headphones quietly enough when using the short nozzles, but if it turned out that you still do not have enough of them, then guys do not hesitate, and safely put titanium or gold nozzles if you really do not have them at all, but what all sorts of things happen haha!
But personally, I really like the fact that these headphones make the treble sound more neutral than other simgot models, with good detail and resolution, while maintaining excellent transparency and airiness. And they are open enough in this range to give you all the subtle nuances of the music, but without over emphasizing these details, which makes the sound to me more comfortable and natural and I think that the piezoelectric driver here does its job very well, and I have had more than one headphone with this type of driver and there have never been any issues.
Well, and also I would like to note that in contrast to the brighter models of this brand, for example, you can remember SIMGOT EA1000, here the high frequencies do not create a feeling of any roughness or excessive sharpness. And this will be important for those who appreciate comfort in listening, especially for a long time, as there are no sharp peaks or unpleasant timbral so to speak defects, which can be very annoying. Instead, the high frequencies here sound smooth, accurate and without excessive harshness, but at the same time retain good resolution, allowing you to hear almost all the details. And this to me makes them an excellent choice for those who prefer a more neutral and less intrusive sound in this range.
Overall, the Simgot ET142's treble is clean and transparent with an emphasis on comfort and naturalness.They don't overwhelm or fatigue your ears, yet remain detailed and airy enough to be very versatile for a wide range of musical genres.

- Sound Stage -
But the soundstage in Simgot ET142 really surprises with its breadth and accuracy due to a rather balanced sound of all frequencies, and when listening to them, it is immediately noticeable that the space in these headphones is drawn very well, and not even the smallest detail is lost, both in the background, and on the edges, and even in the center.
And here is one of the key aspects is the excellent elaboration of the depth of the scene. Sounds do not merge somehow into one plane, but are clearly distributed throughout the space, creating a sense of real volume at about the level of SIMGOT EM10.
Vocals and solo instruments are pushed forward without losing their natural position, and orchestral or layered compositions open up very steeply in depth, allowing you to easily track both foreground and background. And it makes you feel like you're in the center of the musical atmosphere, rather than in the middle of the sound stream.
And especially pleasing is the excellent separation of the instruments. In complex compositions, such as orchestral works or multi-layered heavy rock tracks, each instrument remains distinct, clear and easily distinguishable. Microdynamics combined with good spatialization helps to capture the smallest details, such as changes in instrument position or distance between different sound sources.
And it's also worth noting that the soundstage in the ET142 is quite wide, and sounds are not limited to the area in front of you. They have good horizontal separation, allowing you to feel the full scale of the recording, especially when listening to live concerts.
And to summarize, the soundstage in the Simgot ET142 is a space that is deep and wide across the entire range, making music come alive and layered, without unnecessary confusion or simplification. And as far as I'm concerned, it's a rather atmospheric and natural performance that will appeal to fans of both detailed and more expansive soundscapes.

My conclusion on this headphones!
Well, the conclusion of Simgot ET142 hybrid headphones is as follows - these are really cool hybrid headphones, which surprised me with their rich set and very technical and extremely balanced sound. They use a planar driver and a piezoelectric driver, which gives a very interesting sound at the output: detailed, clear, but with very deep bass and a nice warmth in the midrange.
And the coolest thing is the ability to change the nozzles and customize the sound to your liking.If you want a warm and relaxed sound with an emphasis on bass frequencies, it's fine just use the short nozzles, and if you want a brighter, more energetic and detailed sound, it's fine just use the long nozzles.
And the package is really nice too the cable is of the highest quality, comfortable, plus this time there are a bunch of different ear cushions in the set. And the most important thing is that these headphones sit in your ears very comfortably, even if you listen to them for hours on end.
All in all, if you're looking for headphones that can do everything from deep bass to quite detailed treble, then ET142 definitely deserve your attention.
They'll suit both those who like to listen to music thoughtfully and analytically, and those who just want to get high on sound.

Buy this headphones on Linsoul Official Website:https://www.linsoul.com/products/simgot-et142
Also be sure to check out my video review on these headphones!

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A
audiophilius
wow that cool review bro, keep work!

Ceeluh7

500+ Head-Fier
Simgot ET142 Review
Pros: -Build is more like a tank than anything else I can think of

-Typical classy and amazing Simgot design. Gorgeous

-Great unboxing experience

-Fantastic Simgot LC7 modular cable, nice case, boatload of tips

-Some of the best tuning nozzles (four in total)

-Very technically proficient tuning with a very clean sound

-Snappy, deep, impactful, and very tight bass region

-Midrange is crisp, high resolution, fast transients

-Treble has nice brilliance, pristine, highly detailed, nice extension

-Detail Retrieval

-Spatial imaging

-Large soundstage
Cons: -Some nozzles can be too bright for some

-Not the most lush, rich, and organic sounding

-Some slight planar timbre (doesn’t bother me at all)

Simgot ET142 Review

By: Chris Love​

Simgot ET142 Featured ImageFull Review can be found HERE

Simgot ET142 Header Photo

Simgot ET142 Review

Intro

Hello, this review and feature covers the latest Simgot Audio iem which goes by the name “Simgot ET142” ($219). One thing I always look forward to featuring at Mobileaudiophile.com is any Simgot release. The ET142 is actually a hybrid iem consisting of one planar magnetic driver as well as one piezoelectric driver. Without question I am very interested to hear the implementation of those drivers. I should also mention that the ET142 happens to be their first set of planar magnetic “in-ear earphones” crafted and created by Simgot. However, Simgot did release a pair of planar magnetic full-sized over-ear headphones over six years ago which went by the appropriate name of Simgot ET1000. To hear that Simgot of all brands have finally gone the “in-ear” planar route is very intriguing. Again, I couldn’t have been more interested to hear this set. No doubt that with the expertise on hand within the roster at Simgot they should have zero issues getting the most out of this set.

Simgot

Friends, I feel like a broken record in these reviews. I say that because out of all the Simgot reviews that I’ve conducted, not one has been something that I turned away. You know, I only review what I enjoy as I value my time and want to spend that time with things that I enjoy. Coincidentally, I’ve featured every one of Simgot’s products that I’ve been sent. Basically, I truly enjoyed their products. I wouldn’t say that I’m a fanboy… but I may be a fanboy. At least a little. At any rate, Simgot has literally taken their whole operation three-to-four years ago from a place of relative obscurity and turned their brand into one of the most prolific, cornerstone brands of this generation within the audio world. I really don’t feel that I’m exaggerating with that statement either. If it’s a Simgot release, then you know you are getting something which has been mulled over to exhaustion. Hashed and rehashed over and over again until the end product is one that deserves the name “Simgot” attached to it. There are a few other brands which embody this work ethic as well. However, I feel it’s important to voice my trust in Simgot. That trust comes from the extensive time I’ve spent with their products. Hundreds of hours, no joke.

Glowing Reviews!

It all began with the Simgot EA500 (EA500 Review) which came out of the gate like a shooting star, taking over the budget market, redefining what the consumer should expect for their dollar. Honestly, it still easily stands up against most any set under $100. Then there was the Simgot EW200 (EW200 Review). Once again, Simgot took the entire budget market and quite literally turned it on its head. Still an awesome iem. After that I reviewed the Simgot EM6L (EM6L Review) which was a total departure from Simgot’s “house sound” so to speak. Another very well-tuned iem. After that I reviewed the Simgot EA1000 (EA1000 Review). Um, folks, find me a better single DD under $250. I won’t hold my breath. Then I reviewed what I considered the best single DD under $100 in the Simgot EA500LM (EA500LM Review). What a fantastic iem for the cost. Next was the Simgot Dew4x (Dew4x Review) which is a very well-made dongle dac. Very nice. I still use it for parts of every review I complete. Then came one of my favorites under $200 iems PERIOD, the Simgot SuperMix 4 (SM4 Review). Lastly, I had the pleasure of reviewing the tribrid Simgot EW300 (EW300 Review) which is a strong performer under $100. I realize that nobody asked for that rundown of reviews, but I did so to cement the fact that I couldn’t be more impressed by this brand. Pick a link and read and you’ll see mostly glowing words throughout each one.

Without Further Ado…

And here we are. I finally received the ET142, and it is sitting in a burn-in station and will remain there for at least four full days. Whether it needs it or not (I’m sure it does) doesn’t matter. I do it anyway. From my first listen I can hear the Simgot DNA is in full swing. I spent enough time with the ET142 to decide what tuning nozzles I enjoy the most, even played around modding too as Simgot made the awesome decision to add tuning foams as well as tuning nozzles. Right away I can hear the making of a technical BEAST! For a first go at the planar sound I couldn’t be more impressed folks. With all of that said, I think my intro is complete. So, without further ado, I present to you my thoughts on the brand new Simgot ET142…

Non-Affiliated Purchasing Links:

Linsoul

Simgot ET142

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Gear used for testing

Ifi Go Blu

EPZ TP50

Simgot Dew4x

Aful SnowyNight

Shanling H0

Fiio Q15

Hiby R4

iBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2

Shanling M6 Ultra

Simgot ET142 Review Pic (64).jpg


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What an elegant and completely handsome iem.

Packaging / Accessories

Unboxing

The Simgot ET142 arrived at my home in a medium sized square box (6” x 6” x 2”) with a gradient light gray to dark gray colorway and a picture of the ET142 on the sleeve cover. The backside of the box has a blown-out picture of the driver configuration and Internals as well as some specs for the ET142. Actually, it’s a really cool design for a box. I don’t ever really comment on box designs, but the ET142 box is pretty slick. Slip off the sleeve as best you can. It took two hands because it is ridiculously tight. I really mean this, good luck. Anyways, slip off the sleeve and you’ll see a cardboard flap with a metallic silver picture of a planar magnetic driver and underneath written in cursive it says, “Salute to Art and Science”. It checks out, in fact, that checks out for all of Simgot’s iems. Nice, moving on. Open the flap and you’ll see the beautiful ET142 chillin’ in some black foam cutouts. Next to the ET142 is a box which indicates “Storage Box” which obviously means “Carrying Case”. Inside of the case is the cable and modular adapters. Next to that box is another smaller box which contains the tuning nozzles. Now, under the ET142 is yet another longer box which houses the eartips, some reading material, extra nozzle gaskets, and even some tuning foam to help tune your listening even further. At any rate, the unboxing is actually quite good. For a box of its size, Simgot squeezed a lot of nice accessories.

Simgot ET142 Packaging
Simgot added in high quality accesories.

Eartips

ET142 Eartips

Simgot added in a bunch of eartips within the packaging and each type of tip is actually quite nice. Now, I didn’t actually use any of those tips as I went with the Dunu S&S eartips as they simply sound the best to me, but the added tips included are still great to have in your collection. In total Simgot provides ten pairs of eartips spread across three types of eartips. You get four pairs (XL, L, M, S) of nice black wide bore silicone eartips. They have a firm flange, rigid stem, shallow fit, nice wide-bores. Next, they added in three pairs (L, M, S) of some shallower type of dark gray and red stem silicone tips. These tips have a slightly less firm flange, a hair flimsier along with a rigid stem. Lastly, Simgot provides three pairs (L, M, S) of white silicone tips with a black stem. These tips are very similar in size, feel, and stature to the KBear 07 eartips. Perhaps a hint flimsier on the flange yet still feels rather firm. The stem is rigid, and the bore is closer to a semi-wide bore. Like I said, each style of tips is very nice and could easily be used with other iems in your collection. Thanks, Simgot, nice additions!


Carrying Case

ET142 Carrying Cae

The carrying case provided is a very nice case. I’d say it’s covered in a faux leather, nice stitching. It’s a light gray open top case with a magnetic flap to shut closed. It’s not the largest case. Probably just enough room to store your ET142 and cable. Possibly a really small dongle dac too. It is 3.5” long, 2.5” deep, and 1.5” tall. So, a good size for its purpose. This is actually the exact same case that is provided with the Simgot EA1000. Really a very nice addition into the packaging. I actually never really use any cases but rather have slightly larger cases which can carry more items. Just a reviewer doing reviewer stuff. Yet at times I will use them, and I have to say, this case is one of the few that I actually care to use. It’s just very nicely made, nice to look at. I do wish it was a hint larger. Maybe large enough for another set of earphones and cable, but I’m not complaining. It’s an elegant case for a very elegant set of iems.


Tuning nozzles

ET142 Tuning Nozzles

Like I said, Simgot added in four different tuning nozzles as well as extra foam inserts all in an attempt to provide the consumer with a way to tune their iems to fit their particular tastes. One thing is for sure, these tuning nozzles do make a difference. Some more than others, but I found that with the help of the tuning nozzles and the foam inserts I was really able to dial this set in. However, I did go with the “short black nozzle w/the black silicone ring” during critical listening. I’ll explain next. Anyways, I love that Simgot actually added nozzles which are productive at making actual changes in what I hear through the ET142. Simgot also added in one alloy carrying block which gives you the ability to put two sets of tuning nozzles screwed onto it. The other nozzles are simply put into a baggie. Anyways, it’s a nice feature of this set and I’m glad that Simgot had the presence of mind to add them.

What do they do?

Golden Copper Nozzle & Yellow Silicone Ring:

This nozzle is tied as the brightest of the nozzles as there is no tuning mesh added, no foam, no-nothing but a mesh earwax catch. This nozzle will give you the exact tuning of this set yet with the slight difference that copper will add to the sonic character of the iem. I find this nozzle too bright for me. Definitely a treble-boi nozzle.

Baked Blue Titanium Nozzle & Transparent Silicone Ring:

This nozzle is just as bright as the golden Copper nozzle, yet the sonic character is a hair different as the material used is titanium. Again, too bright for me. Highs are pretty intense. That said, this is the nozzle that I used the tuning foams with where I was able to really dial in the sound. It’s open inside which is nice for fiddling around and modding the nozzle to fit what I like. However, I won’t speak on that because this is a review over stock sound.

Stainless Steel Short Nozzle & Red Silicone Ring:

This nozzle is the warmest of all of the nozzles. In fact, both of the “short” nozzles veer towards warm. It is amazing that I can go from bright to warm simply by using tuning nozzles. Really a large swing in sound. With this nozzle, the real change comes from the upper midrange through to the upper treble. Not an insane difference but you’d be surprised what some treble reduction will do for your listening experience. Bass is deeper, more of a focus too, less intensity, less shout. I definitely enjoy this one.

Stainless Steel Short Nozzle & Black Silicone Ring:

Now this is definitely the nozzle that I enjoy the most. Well, this week anyways. So, the black ring short nozzle is almost identical to the red ring nozzle yet with a touch more upper mid through lower treble emphasis. It’s a very small difference, maybe 2-3 db’s. However, that “little bit” makes a world of difference. It gives me just enough bass focus, treble emphasis, presence up top, and the sound retains mostly all of the technical abilities while coming across more balanced as a whole. Definitely it fits me the most besides my modded nozzle.

Tuning Options

Simgot ET142 Review Pic (102).jpgPlease remember that Simgot added in the tuning foam in the packaging and so you can really drop the sheer amount of treble and upper mid activity. In all truth, my favorite way to hear this set is with the titanium blue hue longer nozzle with some tuning foam inside. Again, for critical listening the short stainless steel nozzle with the black ring is just about the same for me. Perhaps a hair more upper mid energy. However, what Simgot did with this set is give us plenty of options. It comes down to how much you enjoy treble and brilliant energy. You can most assuredly dial that down quite a bit. The amazing skill of this iem is what makes it so nice as no amount of foam inside of the nozzles created any kind of veil and the driver control remains. It’s just a very nice set. I tossed around the idea of reviewing this set with my modded nozzle but after burn-in and hours of brain burn I began to truly enjoy the short stainless nozzle with the black ring. At times the red ring nozzle fits my fancy too, but I had to make a choice. Still, it’s a wonderful thing to have choices and flexibility. Simgot has the forethought to provide us with those options. Friends, that is part of what makes this brand so special.

Cable

Simgot LC7

This is one of my favorite pieces to the ET142 puzzle. Simgot added into the package one of my favorite cables under $100. That is the Simgot LC7 modular cable. The LC7 itself costs upwards of $70 and so it is a very viable cable to use with the ET142. The LC7 is a beautiful metallic white, coaxial Litz twist, 2-pin cable with perfectly contrasting mirror polished silver copper alloy fittings (Y-split, termination housing etc.). The look is so perfectly made for the ET142! I love good aesthetics, and I laud brands who actually think of this part of the package. You need a good looking cable with your earphones. Okay, “need” is a little over the top, but you know what I mean. The look is perfect for the ET142. The mirror silver of the fittings next to the mirror polished design of the ET142 and the metallic white twisted cable is absolutely striking. Now, the LC7 is made with 732 cores (fatty) of high-purity oxygen-free copper and silver-plated wires. Simgot also adds an anti-oxidation pvc coating which supposedly has anti-aging properties. Pretty cool. To add to all of that, the cable is MODULAR! Thank you Simgot! Thank you! How nice is it to simply pull off the termination and put in the one you need? I know, I have many modular cables too, but that doesn’t make it any less nice. The LC7 comes with both a 3.5 single ended termination and a 4.4 balanced termination. I am very happy with this cable. Such a nice inclusion!


The ET142's cable is amazing
One of the best cables you can buy under $100, in my opinion is the Simgot LC7.


Build / Design / Internals / Fit

Build Quality

The actual build of the Simgot ET142 is made by way of CNC machined alloy (likely stainless steel) which are fairly large in stature and are literally smooth everywhere. The ergonomics are perfect for my ears. The ET142 housing has one small vent towards the nozzle. Also, the nozzles (all nozzles) are exactly 6mm in width. Folks, this set is built very durable with such a premium feel to them. I would say that the ET142 are a heavier set of earphones. I don’t know exactly how heavy they are but they’re pretty stout, substantial, and could easily be used as an awesome paperweight. Of course, that would be the ultimate shame because the ET142 looks and sounds so much better when in the ear. Also, I found that the weight distribution is such that I don’t even notice the weight at all. Really a wonderful build for a +$200 set of earphones.

Simgot ET142 Build Quality
The ET142’s build quality is through-the-roof, very well designed and structurally of great quality


Design

Now we get to the design of the ET142. Actually, did you like the design of the Simgot EA500? Well, if you did, you are in luck because the design of the EA500 is pretty much the exact design of the ET142. You have the gorgeous high-polished mirror alloy covering the entirety of the ET142. Simgot also very elegantly added in their logo with a very slight gray color placed in the center of the faceplate area. Such a tasteful and graceful look. Only those who truly understand elegance and minimalist design can craft such a look. It is astoundingly nice to look at. I give Simgot two thumbs up, A+, five stars, and whatever other indicator that I can to denote something which is the embodiment of the panache sophistication. I know, I realize that I may be going a bit strong on this description, but I mean every word. Truly, a wonderful job Simgot!

Internals

As I said earlier, the Simgot ET142 is a dual-driver hybrid earphone. Simgot used a 12.5 mm planar magnetic driver (PL) with an ultra-thin diaphragm encased in a dual-sided magnetic system. This driver covers most of the frequency from the sub-bass through to the highs. The other driver is a piezoelectric driver (PZT) which covers the whole of the treble region or possibly the high-highs. I don’t know exactly where the PZT comes into play. I want to note something as well. The ET142 is strikingly similar to the Raptgo Hook-X in the fact that the Hook-X also used a PL/PZT arrangement, and their frequency graphs are extremely similar. Just thought I’d throw that out there as the Hook-X is clearly one of the best planar sets on the market under $300. I can tell that the drivers used in the ET142 are superior, but it’s worth noting. Anyways, I love the choice of drivers with this set. Other than the drivers and driver materials I don’t know much more about the internals or the acoustic cavity etc.

Fit / Comfort

As I said, the Simgot ET142 is very ergonomic for my ears. I realize this is a very subjective thing to say as it only applies to me, but I’d think the ET142 would fit most hobbyists fairly well. I find them to be very comfortable in my ears and over long listening sessions. To add to that, some of my sessions can regularly go hours on end. No fatigue at all. Maybe I have to take them out to itch my ear from time to time, but they really are very comfortable for me. I have zero idea how this set will fit you, obviously. But again, I cannot imagine that they wouldn’t fit nicely for most people.


Simgot ET142 Review Pic (56).jpg


The Simgot ET142 works well with many sources

Drivability

Sensitivity / Output-Power

The Simgot ET142 is rated with an impedance of 14 ohms and a sensitivity of around 118 db/vrms(@1kHz). Basically, the ET142 is not a super hard set to drive for volume. Even cheap dongle dacs can get this set to volume. However, I hardly feel that using a weaker source is the best way to go with this set. In my listening I quickly found out that the ET142 most certainly scales with good and clean power. Of course, I also figured this would be the case being that this set is a predominantly planar earphone. So, I could use the ET142 with weaker sources and it doesn’t sound bad at all, but I wasn’t getting the most out of it. This is always a difficult section to write about because what we hear is so subjective. You may love the way the ET142 sounds off of a cheap Amazon dongle dac or the Apple dongle. For me, I notice a definite tightening up of the entire frequency when going from one of those lesser powerful 3.5 dongles or my older Android smartphone to the EPZ TP50 on high gain, for example. Really any of my solid dongle dacs was usually plenty. However, without question I received the best sound quality when I paired the ET142 with my much more powerful and more talented daps & dac amps. Like the Hiby R4, iBasso DX240, Shanling M6 Ultra, or even the Fiio Q15. Tighter bass, less splashy upper treble, less planar timbre, and simply more of a dynamic range.

Source tonality

Simgot ET142 Review Pic (63).jpgHow the ET142 responds to your source tonality will depend at least slightly on what tuning nozzle that you prefer. This is another highly subjective topic. I know we reviewers like to speak in absolutes and declare which source tonality is best for whatever set we are reviewing. However, the truth is that it will come down to you and what you enjoy. I can tell you that for me I enjoy a warmer/neutral to neutral source. That said, I don’t enjoy (as much) sources which lean bright or analytical. I much more enjoy a more musical sounding source too with the ET142. Without question my favorite pairing is with my Shanling M6 Ultra. However, even more neutral devices sound nice with this set as well. Dac/amps like the Fiio Q15 have that clean, neutral, and dynamic sound which pair nicely with the ET142. I can tell you this, you certainly don’t need more brightness or treble emphasis, I would think anyways. I suppose if you’re a treble junkie than you’d probably invite more treble sheen. At any rate, most sources do quite well with this set. It may go without saying but the ET142 will certainly reward you for pairing it with more talented source devices. Better dac chips, better amps, circuitry, and for lack of a better words… simply more sonically gifted devices.

Simgot ET142 Review Pic (82).jpg


My favorite, the Fiio Q15 and the Simgot ET142
The Fiio Q15 is certainly a very gifted dac/amp and the ET142 sounds great with it.


Sound Impressions


*Note: Before I delve into the sound, I should first inform you all that I did give the Simgot ET142 about four full days of burn-in. Without question burn-in should be conducted with the ET142. Also, I listen mainly to flac or better files stored on my devices with a little streaming here and there. Also, I listen mostly using the UAPP (USB Audio Player Pro) Android music player along with Hiby Music Player from time to time. I also used Dunu S&S eartips for all critical listening. Lastly, I used the “stainless steel short nozzle & black silicone ring” for almost all critical listening and so my findings will mostly be using that nozzle.

What’s it sound like?

The Simgot ET142 comes across as a very clean and cohesive sounding planar hybrid. No doubt about it that this is a planar type of sound, full of fast twitch muscle reflex and about as dexterous as a set can get. Very agile as the ET142 maneuvers through dynamic shifts, hard stops, attack and recovery in an energetic yet very well controlled manner. This is a somewhat vibrant iem, even with the short stainless black ring nozzle. It’s boisterous, vivid & transparent with nice cadence and a very kinetic charge to the sound. In the same breath, I wouldn’t call the sound strident or too brightly colored (depending on your nozzle choice). Words which first come to mind concerning the sound of the ET142 are vibrant, controlled, structured, impactful, untarnished, and vigorous. In no particular order. Highly complicated tracks seem to not be a problem. This set will have your mind’s eye concentrating on details you didn’t know were there. A very prolific technical iem which doesn’t leave out some semblance of musicality. A lot depends on the track obviously, but Simgot did a very nice job for a planar/PZT hybrid iem costing under $250.

Sound signature

Simgot ET142 Review Pic (35).jpgI’d probably call it a W-shaped sound signature though I could see someone calling it a U-shaped or even a slight V-shaped sound as well. I only say W-shaped because of the fact that the midrange is fairly far forward, pronounced and simply situated closer to the listener. Depending on the nozzle that you choose, the ET142 can go from sharp, bright and snappy to smoother, slightly warmer and snappy, but always snappy. I happen to enjoy smooth and snappy (stainless short nozzle & black ring) and so that’s what I’m going to speak on. Anyways, what you have is a real bite to most all notes depending on the track. If there’s a hard edge, it’ll sound as though there’s a hard bite. There’s a lot of crispness, nice crunch, sharp attack, clean attack, quick decay, and unsullied note outlines. Just a very clean sound. Note weight is not thin, but not thick either, and I still hear adequate density to each note. A certain dynamism with more voluminous macro-dynamics and a nice contrast in tones. However, the ET142 doesn’t lack musicality either. Again, there’s a warmth to the sound with this nozzle and I can’t stress that enough. Some of the other nozzles are a much brighter and more exaggerated W-shaped sound with even more bright energy. That said, it isn’t all cold, dry, and bright. It definitely does lean in the direction of analytical, yet it also carries some tunefulness and a certain symphonic quality which keeps the ET142 from leaning entirely towards the clinical side.

Sound cont…

The ET142 has a big and rigid sub-bass along with a sprightly and brilliant treble that really makes percussion “pop”. Also, the driver control is really great. You don’t have those lingering harmonics mashing together the edges of notes with other notes. Clean separation and excellent clarity. With all that said, the ET142 won’t come across as the most organic sounding iem as far as timbre is concerned. It definitely has its moments and there definitely are tracks which sound more organic than others. Certainly, it isn’t artificial sounding. Only the very slightest planar timbre using the brighter nozzles. I would say right away that the ET142 is not going to be for those folks who desire a warm, laid-back, and lush sound with earthy timbre. However, the ET142 is a very skilled iem and I’m quite positive that most folks will realize this very quickly. Basically, those who really want to try out a planar iem which is always on point, precise, yet doesn’t leave out all emotion will enjoy what Simgot has created.

*Note: The graph below indicates the stock tuning. Remember that each tuning nozzle will present the frequency a hair differently. My preferred nozzle has less upper-mid emphasis for instance. Just something to consider.

Simgot ET142 Graph
Graph courtesy of Aftersound, Thank You!


Simgot-ET142-Review-Pic-87.jpg



Bass Region


The low-end of the ET142 is mostly showcased within the sub-levels with a healthy dose of emphasis which does its best to offset the energy up top. With my nozzle of choice, it is a nice balancing act which makes for a very nice listen. Now, the bass is one of impeccable control with a tight, acutely impactful and very pointed attack edge that decays very quickly. As many planar magnetic earphones do. We should expect as much. No, you don’t quite get that atmospheric and textured decay of a dynamic driver, nor do you get quite the depth. But I promise, the ET142 doesn’t miss by much, at all! Also, who’s to say that a DD bass is the best way to hear bass? Many folks desire planar style bass more. I am not one of those people, but I can really appreciate what Simgot did here. Also, planar drivers can do things that DD’s really cannot easily replicate. However, the ET142 really does hit hard when called upon. Way more than enough to satisfy. It’s rich, full-bodied, and it can bang!

Bass cont…

Furthermore, this is a low-end which can go from 0-100 in the blink of an eye yet with solid bass density. The speed is one of its really nice attributes. I have yet to hear a track that the ET142 couldn’t keep up with. I tried too. The nice mix of speed and density is one of the better qualities of the ET142 in my opinion. All things considered, the ET142 from Simgot has some very nice low-end muscle, some chasmic and low-droning rumble, and some very nice and clean impact. The bass has great note definition and is so far from being one-noted that I thought I heard the ET142 start to belly laugh in my ears for even thinking about it. Fast, tight, profuse in its emphasis, plenty of weight, and not in the slightest form is this bass weak. Basically, the ET142’s bass region is quality over quantity with plenty of quantity.

Sub-Bass

Looking at the sub-bass I’d say it’s pretty clear that the Simgot ET142 can flat-out BANG! Notwithstanding, that “BANG” doesn’t seem to ever muddy the low-end waters. No over-emphasis, always fantastic note control and clean note contour. It’s the type and style of sub-level rumble which drones deeply yet in a very structured manner. I hear nothing even remotely sloppy. Fast, clean, highly resolute, bullish in its tapered and arrow-like attack with a prompt transient decay. No it isn’t some lingering, atmospheric, resonant filled or ear massaging style. It doesn’t detonate sending long drawn out aftershock reverbs to every corner of your brain. If you’ve heard a planar style bass that isn’t so one sided towards the lows, then you know… they hit n’ git. If I’m being totally honest, and I am, the bass on this set can be very enthralling and the sub-bass is a huge reason for that. Listening to The Wilder Blue in their track “Feelin’ the Miles” you’ll hear a fairly bulbous and meaty bassline with a full toned bass guitar that you can feel. It’s the extension down low which gets me. It’s the shuddering and juddering pin-point and hard edged crest of every note which makes me hit replay just to hear it again. Basically, the ET142’s ability to dig deep with a nice haptic feel to my music is great, while at the same time never muddying the mix is a treat for this guy.

Mid-Bass

Like I said, the sub-levels of the mix carries the majority of the convexity of the bass shelf. Just like every region on this set, it’s fast and tight, taut and defined, and it has a penchant for never missing a beat. Now, the mid-bass isn’t the most robust area of the mix, and it doesn’t steal focus. I would call it moderate in overall emphasis and authority. That said, I really don’t miss anything, and I actually really enjoy this slightly lifted mid bass region. I can tell you this for sure; the ET142’s mid-bass isn’t even close to muddy. If anything, it’s the exact antithesis of the word “muddy”. Clean-lined, streamlined, and very tidy. Certainly not what anyone would consider basshead. However, the mid-bass is also bolstered by the sub-bass quite often. What you get in this area is just enough fullness for Kick-drums, bass guitar, baritones, etc. Tracks like “2040” by Lil Durk and Lil Baby produces a fairly strong boom on the bass drop. Anyone listening to that track wants that bulbous bass to bullishly bang. I wouldn’t say that bassheads would be impressed, but those who enjoy a quality mid-bass with a solid technical footing should appreciate what the ET142 can do. It’s skilled folks… nuff’ said. Well, there’s actually quite a bit more to say. Like, when I’m listening to the track “Billie Jean” from Weezer. Right out the gate you hear some fast repetitious kick drums. One after the other. I enjoy that the ET142 keeps such a pristine note edge, nice timbre and doesn’t feel like it’s lacking either. Granted, it isn’t slam-city, but I get that nice snap on attack quickly followed by a nice and cavernous boom. Nice enough anyways. Really, it all comes down to how you like to hear your music for a track such as this.

Mid-bass cont…

There are obviously many sets which can produce more emphasis at this price which will provide a much more dense and textured low-end note delivery. Not to say the ET142 is without texture or density, because it certainly has enough of both. Though it simply won’t be able to be fully appreciated unless you actually desire a set with less robust fullness and more clinical quality. Having said that, as a whole the ET142 is very close in quantity to a set like the Raptgo Hook-X for example. It hits pretty hard. If you know that set, then you know that you won’t be missing any low-end rumble. Or something like the 7hz Timeless. Actually, to my ears the ET142 has more low-end weight than the set which started the whole planar craziness. Now, the ET142 does have some brightness to offset the boom. However, for the 20th time I have to say that you get to change up the sound to fit your fancy. I am so very satisfied with the mid-bass slam using the short stainless black ring nozzles as there’s enough thrumming meat and shuddering slam for most any track. That all said, no doubt about it that the ET142 has a highly skilled bass in this region and will truly take on any track. I should also add that the midrange does receive a bit of bass bleed. Just enough to add some warmth.

Downsides to the Bass Region

I’d say the number one thing which the ET142 is guilty of is that it isn’t a dynamic driver. Be that as it may, the ET142 gets you somewhat close. On top of getting you close, it also can-do things that most dynamic drivers cannot do. Still, the ET142 doesn’t quite have the organic and resonant impact of a DD. Again, it’s so close that most of you won’t even notice. This I can assure you. It’s only when you actually listen for it. I say that because the bass on the ET142 is very full bodied, very rich, and it really does hit very hard. However, it’s also very impressive technically which simply leaves that last touch of lingering harmonics and bulbous depth. I also think that bassheads, or even moderate bassheads won’t be entirely in love. Yes, the ET142 can bang, and yes, the sub-bass rumbles in a very deep and guttural way when called upon, but the ET142 does miss a hair in the mid-bass. Once again, I really miss nothing with this set. I understand what it is and what it’s good at. Perhaps texture is ever-so-slightly not as evident, but that is hardly the most vital piece to this low-end puzzle. In truth, I feel that Simgot nailed this bass. For a planar set it rumbles in a very deep and palpable way. Again, very rich and full bodied. There’s plenty of haptic vibratory goodness, clean and well-defined notes, fast attack through recovery, not even hinting at anything muddy, veiled, or one-noted as well. It’s a solid low-end.



The Shanling M6 Ultra & Simgot ET142 Planar


Midrange

I feel that the midrange is probably the focal point of the ET142 and depending on your nozzle situation it can go from slightly lean to a natural semi-rich note weight. I really don’t consider this set to be thin, dry, anemic or frail, at all. No way. The ET142 has a vibrant presence, very airy, open, well-separated, it’s fast too, with details coming out of the woodwork to get to your ears. This would usually make me think that the mids are analytical through and through. Well, they partially lean that way, but the midrange also has a certain smoothness which is very nice to the ear. Think of a sound which is ridiculously fast, controlled, tight around every corner, no track too fast. Now think of that same set with a smoother note inflection. Not too sharp, mellifluous to an extent as well. The mids definitely have some levity however with very nice transparency. Some tracks can be a hair hot due to the pinna rise but not glaring to the point that it induces pain or makes me want to turn the volume down. I cannot stress enough that you need to try all nozzles. The two longer and brighter nozzles sound extremely similar and those two are pretty bright. I am not talking about those. The only thing I like about those nozzles is that I can mod them to sound more like the two shorter nozzles. Anyways, I digress. The ET142 has a very nice sounding midrange. It’s forward in a pleasant way and the midrange has a very nice note presence with very nice etched note outlines. Nothing grainy or fuzzy.

Mids cont…

Also, the stage is wonderful too. I hear nicely delineated note separation accompanied by solid layering of sounds. Something most planars aren’t usually good at. There’s only a couple that I’ve heard with the depth of field similar to the ET142, and those are the Letshuoer S12 2024 Edition, and the Letshuoer S15. I wouldn’t call the midrange “holographic” per say, but I would say it is well sparse-out with solid imaging and decent front to back layers for a planar magnetic earphone. Also, in my opinion, the midrange is more natural tonally than it isn’t. You don’t have that earthy type of organic or analog style sound, but the midrange also isn’t plagued with planar timbre or metallic timbre. There’s the faintest touch of it that you really cannot get around with a planar tuned this way, but it is not even close to a problem for me. I don’t even notice it actually unless I strategically listen for it. So, the timbre is actually fairly nice. I think what keeps it from perfectly natural is its tight transient behavior. Again, very little lingering harmonics. In the same breath, those tight transients are one of its best qualities. I guess like anything it all comes down to what you enjoy. Thankfully, I enjoy just about every sound signature and so I really do recognize where Simgot got things right.

Lower-Midrange

Looking at the lower-midrange, I hear some decent warmth and body along with some vibrance. Not vibrant as in “bright”, but vibrant as in “energized”. There’s a certain air to the sound which makes the lower midrange come across open sounding and not dull or flat. So many sets suffer from a more obtuse, blunted, or edge-less sound here. Not the ET142. Along with its smooth under-body the ET142 has plenty of surface texture and crispness. It’s a very tangible and tactile sound. More corporeal and vivid too. Basically, the low-mids aren’t boring and have plenty of edge when a track presents it. Now, when I think of the low-mids I usually think of male vocalists. It’s the easiest way for me to explain the sound rather than going through every Instrument. For instance, “Rome” by Dermot Kennedy. His voice is full of that Irish pronunciation, which shows clearly in his songs. His voice has an edge to it, it’s slightly abrasive, especially when he belts stuff out. However, his voice has some authority and weight to it too. The ET142 really does his voice some justice. The edge to his voice isn’t inflated, or magnified. While the edginess is there, it isn’t too coarse or dissonant. Really well highlighted against the melody which surrounds his voice too. More forward than it isn’t, yet not boxy. Really, a nice take on the low-mids. Of course, less edgy voices like Sam Barber in “Cold, Dark Place” sounds very melodic. His voice comes across uplifted, tuneful, and the ET142 shows off great clarity too. I know some people enjoy warmer and lusher sounding low-mids but I cannot knock the ET142 here.

Upper-Midrange

The upper-mids are most certainly more forward than the lower-midrange. As you’d expect. The ear gain rises about 12 db’s using the brighter “long” nozzles. Yet the nozzles that I enjoy are less pronounced and so they don’t come across quite as energized or shouty. You see, right after the pinna rise is a short-lived roll-off and dip which seems to keep the glare at bay. To tell you the truth, females actually come through with awesome presence. Generally, their voices seem to project or extrude toward the listener with a clean note outline and decent note body. Slightly thinner and slightly drier than the low-mids, but still nice. Singers like Norah Jones in “Don’t Know Why” sound so very silky, smooth, and just plain charming. There is not even a hint of bad timbre in this track. Very pleasant to the ear. Her voice is perfectly centered, forward in the sound field while the acoustic guitar and piano sitting a hair further back. Really harmonious. Having said that, her voice sounds good on almost any set.

More of a test

However, Sia‘s track off her new album called “I Forgive You” has a bit more contrast to it which may present more problems for the ET142. Nevertheless, the ET142 replays her scratchy and resounding vocal inflections very well. I like how the ET142 doesn’t fall flat on its face in this track as there’s way more than enough moments for it to do so. As uplifted and airy as this set is, Sia’s vocals never induce any sharpness. Perhaps there is a hint of thinness, but man I am reaching when I say that. Honestly, females sound pretty nice folks. However, I need to test this set with the real glaring tracks, like “The Otherside” by Cam. For whatever reason her voice just hits that right frequency which if played with the wrong set will definitely force your in-ears to no longer be… in your ears. I have so many of these types of tracks in my “Shout” playlist and honestly the ET142 generally keeps everything together nicely.

Instruments

Folks, I really don’t like explaining instruments as every track is not recorded the same, every track is different, and not every track is going to sound the same for every instrument, obviously. That said, the ET142 replays most instruments a hair off of organic. Being a planar definitely has its upsides, and downsides. Yes, it hits those transients with ease and illuminates every detail with good resolve. However, some fundamental and secondary harmonics may sound a hair stripped. As though the notes cut-off seemingly clipping the full breadth of those notes. Having said that, the ET142 does a nice job tonally. Percussion has a hard snap and a thrusted crash. Snares “pap” with very solid energy. Or the fundamental tone of a cymbal strike sounds slightly scaled-up or more slightly more intense. Strings of all kinds. Violin can come across silvery, glassy, lustrous, and even elegant. Woodwind instruments are ever-so-slightly embellished but also leaning toward the natural. I could go on and on folks. Basically, instruments come across pretty nice for the tuning. Maybe a hint more energetic than some may like, and perhaps not perfectly authentic to life, but I don’t hear anything which is downright “off”.

Downsides to the Midrange

To me the biggest downside of the midrange is that those who enjoy a warmer, lusher, and richer sound in this region aren’t going to get that here. So many hobbyists prefer a thicker sound. So many enjoy an easy-going and even smoother sound as well. No doubt the ET142 is an acquired taste. Like anything. However, not everyone is going to be down with its more lustrous sound. It’s just the truth. I can tell you that I’ve spent so many hours with the ET142 in my ears and I have more than grown accustomed to the way it portrays the midrange, and I quite like it. Brain-burn is in full effect. I actually went back to the Aful Explorer after weeks with this set and the sound came across veiled in comparison. Granted I love that set, but I say that to make a point. The ET142 has a sound that will grab you when you least expect it. Also, this midrange has so many upsides. Especially when speaking in its technical capabilities in conjunction with its symphonic sound. Not bad at all.



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Treble Region

The highs in the ET142 are without question the most energetic part of the spectrum. They come across with plenty of solid treble crunch with a sparkly clean-cut resonance. It can go from “pretty brilliant and emphasized”, to “very brilliant and very emphasized” just by modifying the sound using the tuning nozzles and included foam inserts. I would definitely say that using the Golden-Copper nozzle will be a treat for treble heads. As we’ve learned throughout this review I mainly listened with the less intense short stainless nozzle. That said, the ET142 has a very lively macro-dynamic sound with forward instruments in this region that are very well articulated. You have a lot of nice driver control as well. To my ears the piezoelectric driver seems to be well implemented. I don’t get that electric-metallic “zizz” at the crest of each note like I do on so many other sets using a piezo. I can’t imagine it’s a very easy driver to tune. However, when done right, they can sound like they have all the earmarks of a nice treble driver. I give all of the credit to the people over at Simgot as they really did a nice job. Now, I’d say the ET142 certainly has a more analytical approach to this area of the mix

Lively & well contoured

Now, the treble on the ET142 has plenty of upper range emphasis which is contrasted well enough against the lift in the bass region. No doubt this is a brighter iem. Yet that brightness never really becomes fatiguing for me. The treble is very well controlled. Every note seems to have some decent treble bite. I hear a punchy treble with solid enough note body. The treble region is well done with a tactile and even slightly haptic style sound. The track “Evil Twin” by Lindsey Stirling is one which shows off that ability. This track moves along at a fairly fast speed with quite a lot of treble output and the ET142 never seems to cross the line into offense. Each note sounds very clean, satisfyingly edgy, solid note body too. Each leading edge on attack has a tasteful abrasive quality, is well textured, and has plenty of micro-details coming forth. Ultra crisp and very sparkly without killing my ears in the process. Really a nice replay of this track. In my opinion the ET142 has solid note structure and a well laid out note contour in the midst of a very lively and sprightly sound. For me a lot depends on the nozzle I choose to use. For instance, using the brighter gold nozzle was just a tad too much vivacity for my ears. I’m sure treble heads would be right at home, but I much more enjoyed the slightly toned down stainless short nozzle.

Airy, open, extended

Another solid quality of the treble is how open and airy it is. What this does is add what I perceive to be a more uncluttered and spacious sound across the mix. The ET142’s treble most certainly uplifts most frequencies by bringing some exuberance and dynamism to the sound creating space between notes along with ample amounts of sparkle as well. The ET142 also has great extension into the highest of highs. The upper treble region, or the “air” region has more than enough emphasis to give the secondary harmonics of a cymbal strike some real nice presence, for example. Like I said earlier, I don’t hear anything outright splashy, and I don’t hear anything outright artificial sounding either. In fact, timbre stays close to natural for me. Well, maybe “bright/natural”, if that’s a thing. Also, the good extension provides a wider overall sound field. A psycho-acoustic stretching of the stage. Couple that with the deep and extended sub-bass and what you have is a pretty vast showcase by the ET142. Better extension usually will add some width to the sound and the ET142 is a testament to that.

Speedy

To add to that, the ET142 has a keen ability to take on most any track that I throw at it with relative ease. It doesn’t seem to matter how complicated it is. If the track is well recorded the ET142 will resolve every note very well. That piezo and planar combo is really a winner when it comes to speed. However, it isn’t just speedy as it also doesn’t lack quality either. I’ve heard plenty of very fast treble sets which don’t really present notes very well. You’ve heard them, they will sound as though you're swimming in a pool of treble tizz and sheened out treble. Not the ET142. At least not with the nozzle I enjoy. At any rate, the treble is very skilled. A very open sounding, transparent, and clean-lined sound that’s highly resolving leading to solid detail retrieval, nice note separation, and one of the better treble showcases I’ve heard under $250. Also, just like every other area of the mix transients move along very rapidly. Again, I would think that anyone who really enjoys treble will enjoy the ET142.

Downsides to the Treble Region

As much as I enjoy the highs on this set, that certainly doesn’t mean that you will enjoy the highs. Yes, you can change it all up to your hearts’ content with modifications, but without question the treble will be too bright for many people. This hobby is so diverse. In fact, I went through a stage not too long ago where I only wanted rolled-off and dark treble. So, I get it. Nothing is for everyone. At any rate, there are plenty of people who are sensitive to a more treble-focused iem who may want to keep looking. Beyond the emphasis, I really do find the ET142 to be a special set with a very competent and compelling treble region. It adds such a nice vivacious energy and does so without coming across too sharp, harsh, or grating.


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Technicalities

Soundstage

The soundstage is great, and I feel it’s certainly a “pro” for this set. Listening to the ET142 I definitely hear above average width of the sound field. In fact, above average is a very conservative thing for me to say concerning the width of this stage. Height is also very nice too. Yet what helps the Simgot ET142 the most in providing a captivating stage would be the depth. Now, I’m not saying “best in class” or anything, but the fact that the ET142 is a planar magnetic earphone and there is any depth is saying a lot. This is not usually the case. In reality many planars come across with a wider presentation. However, that wide stage is also usually a flat plane of sound in front of the listener. Thankfully the Simgot ET142 has enough good depth for solid layering. I won’t go so far as to say the stage is holographic, but there is some dimension to the sound. All things considered, the ET142’s stage size and quality are pretty darn good.

Separation / Imaging

I think you already know exactly what I’m going to say here. But humor you and speak on it again. So, the Simgot ET142 really does have excellent separation of elements within the stage. There is plenty of good space created to provide very well designated and delineated instruments and voices. Unequivocally, the ET142 is a technical beast. The note control is great, the sound is transparent, clean too. The ET142 has a very open sound, very aired-out while also having transient attack through decay which is fleet-footed and swift. It has glass-lined notes, a black background too. These character traits all help in the ET142’s ability to sparse out instrumentation very well. Imaging is just as solid too. I have zero issues placing elements of the stage in particular spots in the sound field. Both separation and imaging are strong “Pros” in my opinion.

Detail Retrieval

Again, I’ve said it a few times, but detail retrieval is fantastic. This set has no issues highlighting the subtleties within my music. Even in complicated passages the ET142 seems to be able to take them all on. Again, for all the reasons that this set separates and images the stage at a top class level are some of the same reasons that it’s able to put a spotlight on the minutiae. Whether it be the subtle breath in a mic, hard to hear noises in your favorite live track, finger slides on the guitar strings, to all the resulting gradient harmonics which would be much harder to hear on a less able iem, the ET142 performs. I’d say the only real stipulation would be that heavy bass dominated music will obviously be harder to spot those subtle details. The bass can mask over certain areas and simply make details harder to detect. I should also add that the ET142 will most certainly play much better in quality recorded tracks. On the flipside of that, the ET142 will definitely let you know if your music is not a quality recording. Also, not everyone wants to be forced to pay attention to all of those details. Sometimes you just want to close your eyes and casually listen.

What a beauty of a planar from Simgot.




Comparisons

Planar Wars! Comparison
Simgot ET142 / Letshuoer S12 2024 Edition

Letshuoer S12 2024 Edition ($199)

S12 2024 Edition

The Letshuoer S12 2024 Edition came out last year with a bang. I reviewed the S12 2024 (S12 2024 Review) at some point last year and I gotta tell you guys, I fell head over heels over that set. Without a doubt it’s one of the best planars within the entire market. For many reasons. Now, the S12 2024 comes with a very large 14.8 planar magnetic driver and one of the best looking iems as well. This is a set which blasted off into the audio-world stratosphere very quickly. Letshuoer took all of their combined knowledge crafting planar sets and put it all into this special addition iem. Really a solid set for the cost too. Let’s see what the differences are.

Differences

To start, both iems are built using all-alloy. Both built extremely well, very durable, very stout. The ET142 is a little bit larger in overall size and it has a deeper fitting nozzle too, so you may want to keep that in mind. I fins the ET142 is a hair easier to get to seal in my ears as well but that’s highly subjective. As far as design goes, the S12 2024 is simply stunning with its golden mirror like colorway. Having said that, I personally feel that the Simgot ET142 is clearly the better designed set of the two. As nice as the S12 2024 is to look at the ET142 is a clear winner in my book. So classy, elegant and clean. Between the two the S12 2024 probably has the more ornate and lavish unboxing (clearly a special addition set) but as far as actual inclusions the ET142 definitely has the better cable. Both sets come with a boatload of eartips and both sets have a nice carrying case too. I’d say that they are equal in this department after all is said and done. Having said all of that, the S12 2024 is a hair cheaper by about $20, give or take.

Sound Differences

I’ll be honest, I don’t know if the S12 2024 was the best comparison to use for this review. Really it sounds very different from the ET142. For one, the S12 2024 is a much warmer sounding iem, less technical, more musical, less crisp and crunch and less bright. Also, the S12 2024 definitely comes across more organic and less intense with a more naturally organic sounding timbre. However, the ET142 is much more refined in its technical approach and the driver combo of the planar & PZT do seem to add some better layering, better separation of instruments, better imaging capabilities and a wider stage. Depth is about equal too but the ET142 has the better layering as well. The ET142 is definitely the more open sounding set, airier, better stage size.

Each 3rd of the mix

Starting with the bass region the S12 2024 has the more forward bass. It also has less treble output which certainly helps to give a more pronounced bass section with more slam and boom by the tiniest margin. That said, the ET142 has the more defined bass with a more guttural sub-level bass. Again, by the slightest of margins. The midrange if the S12 2024 has the more authentic timbre in my opinion while the ET142 is a titch less natural. I suppose a lot has to do with the boosted treble and upper-mids. Of course, change your nozzle situation and you can get the ET142 sounding pretty nice and closer to natural. Once again, the ET142 has better detail retrieval within the mids and a more open and separated sound. The ET142 is more transparent, cleaner, more crisp, and more vibrant too. Also, the treble region on the ET142 has more brilliance, better extension, and it carries a better quality treble in my opinion as well. I should also note that the S12 2024 does very nicely in the technical stuff too. Basically, it’s no slouch. However, the ET142 is on another level in this regard. Folks, both of these sets have their own rewards and both do very well for their respective prices. Really these are two totally different sets as far as their sound signatures.

Final thoughts on this comparison

I’ll be honest, I love both sets for different reasons and different uses. One is slightly musical and very technical, while the other is slightly technical and very musical. Both are top class for planar sets around $200. Both truly have wonderful implementations of planar magnetic drivers. Clearly there are some fairly magnificent experts tuning them both.


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Graph courtesy of Aftersound, I greatly appreciate the use of this graph, thank you!


The Simgot ET142 & the iBasso DX240

Is it worth the asking price?

The Simgot ET142 comes in with an MSRP of right around $219. That’s a ton of money for many people around the globe. Not everyone can just plop down +$200 on a set of earphones. To add to that, there’s plenty of lesser expensive sets which almost get you to the quality of the ET142. Like the Hidizs MP145 (MP145 Review) which is one of the legendary planar sets. Truly a performer across the board. Also, the Letshuoer S12 Pro. Another very competent planar iem. In all reality, I could name so many sets which are great for lesser prices. This hobby is filled with them. It all comes down to you, your pocketbook, and your sound signature preferences. However, preferences aside, I can tell you with complete confidence that the ET142 is worth every last dollar of that $219 that Simgot is asking. Will it be for everyone? Of course not. Despite that, for those who are seeking out a set with the ET142’s style of tuning I think that this set is a complete no brainer.

The Why…

Because the ET142 is built like an absolute tank. The alloy used is polished to a gorgeous mirror finish with the small Simgot logo very lightly imposed on the center of the faceplates. I can’t get over how nice this set looks. The mirror look is really enthralling. Such a classy, dignified, and handsome iem. Also, the ET142 is outfitted with awesome accessories. The cable is one of my favorites under $100 and you get a bevy of tips and a nice case too. Then you have actual working tuning nozzles which make large somewhat differences in sound are included as well. So the unboxing is pretty great. Yet when it comes down to worth, the only thing that ever matters is the sound. The bass hits so deep, extended, and guttural. I hear such a solid and dense sound yet with a very tight transient response. Next, the midrange is great for vocalists for an analytically leaning iem. I said it earlier in the review and I’ll say it again; the Simgot ET142 is not without musicality. The mids are very precise, unsullied, and speckless. Then comes the treble which is so very capable folks. The crunch, the crispness, the punch, the bite and the brilliance. The ET142 definitely has a very refined sound. Again, detail retrieval is more than adequate. Separation of instruments is stellar, Imaging is spot-on, and I hear actual layering happening within a very nicely sized stage. It all adds up people, the ET142 is without a doubt worth every penny.

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Ratings (0-10)

Note: all ratings are based upon my subjective judgment. These ratings are garnered against either similarly priced sets or with similar driver implementations or styles with the unique parameters of my choosing. In the case of the Simgot ET142 ratings below, that would be $100-$250 planar magnetic iems. Please remember that “ratings” don’t tell the whole story. This leaves out nuance and a number of other qualities which make an iem what it is. A “5-6” is roughly average and please take into consideration the “lot” of iems these ratings are gathered against. $100-$250 planar iems are not a large sized scope of iems. So, It should more common to see a rating above a “9.0”. My ratings are never the same and each set of ratings tells a different story. Each time you read one of my ratings will be unique to that review. Basically, I create a Rating that makes sense to me.

Aesthetic

Build Quality: 9.8 Well built, all-alloy

Look: 9.8 Just gorgeous.

Fit/Comfort: 9.3 Fit and comfort is very good for me.

Accessories: 9.3 Accessories are all nice.

–Overall: 9.6🔥


Sound Rating

Timbre: 9.0 Timbre is nice for a planar.

Bass: 9.3 Very deep, palpable, and impactful.

Midrange: 9.3 Clean and detailed.

Treble: 9.7 A very talented treble region.

Technicalities: 9.6 Technical beast!

Musicality: 8.7 Still has some nice musicality.

Overall: 9.3🔥🔥🔥


Ratings Summary:

I feel like the ratings above pretty much say everything and I don’t feel that there’s much to explain either. For this rating period I pitted the ET142 against any planar magnetic earphone between the prices of $100 and $250 that I have heard. I had many of these sets during this ratings comparison and I feel that the ET142 was probably the most skilled of them all. Some were more musical, bigger low-end, better for vocalists, etc. However, the ET142 quite easily deserves the “9.6” that I earned. Now I haven’t heard every set within this price range and so I cannot say I’ve heard them all. Still, I feel I have a good idea where the ET142 stands. The crux is that these ratings will only tell you my opinion, for me. You may think very differently than I do. So I would urge you to take these ratings lightly. They are only one man’s opinion folks. Remember, grains of salt.

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The SimgotET142 is gorgeous



Conclusion

To conclude my full written review and feature of the Simgot ET142, I want to first thank the good people of Simgot for providing the ET142 in exchange for a full feature at Mobileaudiophile.com. Simgot thank you! Also, thank you to you, the reader, for taking the time to click the link and check out any review at Mobileaudiophile.com. You have to know that this means quite a lot to us as your clicks really does benefit the website. It’s our best hope that you would take something away from our reviews and possibly help in your journey to find the best audio devices to suit your preferences. So, thank you!

Other Perspectives

Also, I must add that I do feel it is a good idea to check out other thoughts besides mine. Folks, we are all so very different and each one of us has our idea of what either “good” or “bad” sounds like. We all don’t have the same hearing abilities, we may not have similar music libraries and tastes, and not everyone has the same gear either. Also, we all haven’t been down the same journey through audio. That journey does help to shape and form opinions. The point is that we are not all the same and not every reviewer is going to judge the same. So I do hope that you will take a look at other perspectives on the Simgot ET142. I do believe that will help you to make a purchasing decision.

Lastly, I dont want to leave this review without giving the Simgot ET142 my recommendation. Without a doubt this is one very talented iem. Yes, it is an acquired style of tuning and may take a moment. However, I also think that the legendary Simgot EA1000 is also an acquired taste for many. I’m telling you, the ET142 is a flat-out and hands-down PERFORMER! I love that I have options to dial in the sound to my particular sound ideals. I can mod till my hearts content. However, there are so many reasons why this set is worth every penny as well as being one of the better iems that $220 can get you. Just a fantastic addition to the audio world. So, the Simgot ET142 is an easy rec from me. With that, I think that I am done. Again, thanks to Simgot, the wonderful rep that I deal with (you are awesome Betty) and thank you for visiting. Please take good care, stay as safe as you can, and always…God Bless!


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Gustavo1976
Gustavo1976
Same density on all sponges? Great review.

Dsnuts

Headphoneus Supremus
Simgot Prometheus Aka ET142
Pros: -Solid all metal ergonomic build
-Good passive isolation for metal builds
-Comes with a good, varied set of accessories
-3 pairs of tips, Magnetic case, tuning foams
-4 set of tuning nozzles with different sound profiles
-Premium LC7 OFC silver plated cable worth $70 in 3.5mm & 4.4mm plugs
-Superb integration of PZT driver and 12.5 Planar magnetic driver
-Sound tunings range from Harmon Analytical to balanced warm depending on nozzles
-Able to tweak sound even further by using tuning foams in addition to the nozzles of choice
-Much better than what you initially read or seen online about them.
-Smooth detailed, airy with an organic tonal quality.
-Full extended trebles you can tune to your liking.
-Deep sub bass emphasis with solid impact and speedy tight planar bass
-Very good versatility for all types of music and media genres.
-Good sold note weight for music of all types.
-Solid technicalities including good stage and dynamics for sound.
-Sound gets much better smoother with solid cohesion after burn in.
Cons: -8khz emphasis, a bit spicy for rock music.
-not the most dimensional sound presentation
-Planar timbre for mids and bass, but improves for the better with burn in.
-Sub bass texture lacking a bit with a quicker decay of notes
Simgot ET142 AKA Prometheus
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The newest IEM from Simgot is not without some minor controversy. Initial batches of the new Planar based hybrid from Simgot got some not so warm impressions from the regulars on the tube with some saying its good but the tuning is a bit hot. Some just outright did not like them. I do know on open listen they are not ideal. My own initial take on the ET142 was not all that complimentary of the IEM but this was one where I had a feeling a bit of time tinkering with its tuning nozzles with a bit of burning in would help. I have heard a lot of IEMs that don’t sound so good out of the box so the ET142 was yet another IEM that I don’t recommend actually taking seriously till you get some hours on the baking oven and I highly suggest trying out their included nozzles before assessing the ET142.

The sound gets smoother, more bodied with better cohesion, the trebles especially changed for the better. In other words, the sound has matured a lot and is not the grainy mess I heard on open listen. As of writing I have had the ET142 for a few months actually and it was due to Simgot pulling a bit of a surprise. Simgot looks at reviews and to their credit they have held onto the initial launch of the Prometheus AKA ET142 until they did some extra tinkering in the form of extra nozzles. They now include 2 more nozzles in their box package so you now get a total of 4 sets of nozzles including the two original ones that came with the initial batch of the ET142. With the ET142 getting a nice longer run in and with the new additional nozzles for the ET142 the new name for the ET142 is now Prometheus. Simgot is ready to launch their newest planar hybrid.
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A few disclaimers on the way I assess IEMs. First of all I always burn in every IEM I review at a minimum of a week's time. I do take some notes between open box and their final sound so it has nothing to do with my brain getting used to the IEM. Guys that have a knee jerk reaction to how the new Prometheus sounds out of the box and take the sound for what it is without burn in are doing the IEM a disservice in my opinion. That goes for every IEM. I am a very firm believer of getting the best out of every transducer that goes into my ears to know the sound before reviewing. Take that for what it's worth because there are a lot of reviewers online and on the tubes that don't care to do any of that. Truth is some IEMs reveal themselves right away and some don’t. Prometheus is the latter. These take a bit of time and tinkering to get the best of which I will describe here for my reader.

I use a minimum of 5 different sources. Which in my opinion is the minimum for really getting to know a sound. But that's just me. I see too many reviews of guys using a single source for their review and once again that is doing the IEM injustice, as there are some that believe sources don’t matter. In any case, here are my thoughts about Simgots newest Hybrid the Prometheus.

I would like to thank Fia Lam of Simgot for providing a review sample of the ET142. You can find more information about them here. The ET142 has been burned in for a week period and has been listened to on and off for a period of 2 months. My sources used for the ET142 are the IBasso DX300Max, Ibasso PB5 amp, Ibasso DX180, Fiio M15, Fiio M15S, IFI signature and Fiio K9 pre ESS.
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The old burn in debate might peep its ugly head on the topic but I know for a fact folks that don’t bother with any of that before doing any reviews, hence the not so positive reviews of the ET142. I suppose when you have over a dozen new IEMs on the review cue and no time to burn in anything, I can understand that. On the other hand, some IEMs need that time for the driver to settle and bring out its best version of itself. The ET142 sounded especially harsh on open listen. All that has changed due to Simgot recognizing a few aspects about the ET142 tuning that does not bode so well for western likes in sound tunings.

There are IEMs that don't need burn in but the ET142 is an IEM that absolutely requires it for them to show what they are about. To my surprise a lot of the criticisms I had earlier about the shouty nature and such are mostly gone but it also has to do with the new nozzles they have included. I am hearing much better cohesion between planar and PZT drivers which is yet another reason for burning in the Prometheus. Bass seems to have better clarity and definition. Mids sounds more smoother with an organic overtone, much more melodic, better density with more substantial note weight. It was the upper mids and treble which were the areas of contention on the open box listen. Trebles much better after a week of burning however it still has that Piezo characteristic timbre. The good news there is that It's actually integrated well with the Planar. Way better than on open listen. It has to be one of the best implemented Piezo drivers for its sound I can think of.
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What they come with.

The new Prometheus comes with a gray colored rectangular medium sized box case with a magnetic lid. This case is just big enough to store the Simgot LC7 cable with its 3.5mm single and 4.4mm balanced plugs, A set of extra tips and the IEMs. This is a case where I feel the case does not account for the more substantial LC7 silver plated OFC cable which cost about $60-$70. It all fits in the case but barely. I think Simgot would have done better to provide a bit larger case for the Prometheus. It also comes with 3 sets of silicone tips and 2 new shorter filtered nozzles that clearly changes the tuning of the new Prometheus and if that's not enough, it also comes with a set of their tuning foams meaning you can customize the Prometheus to exactly how you like to hear your new Planar hybrid.

Sigmot tuning.
Simgot does several variances of the harmon tuning. Which some folks are not a fan of, but today's IEMs all seem to use a variant of the harmon tuning to one degree or another. It is now rare to see an IEM not have any pinna gain or an enhanced upper mids emphasis. The way our hearing portrays sound that emphasis is needed for sound balancing and presences for the mid bands. Prometheus is guilty of having a bit of extra in an early 2.5khz pinna gain with its stock nozzle and treble that has a spike at the sensitive 8khz region. If you end up trying their gold nozzle the sound does become a touch shouty and that 8Khz spike in the trebles causes a bit of glare for percussion noticed for crash cymbals for rock music. The mids are actually organic sounding with a smooth finish and its bass end is impressive with a boost towards its sub bass. Planar timbre is a thing for IEMs and while I perceive the Prometheus to have a timbre which is a touch soft it makes up for it with an organic smooth musical tonal quality. I really don't have issues with the timbre characteristics and surprisingly the PZT here does a splendid job with the upper treble notes, especially noted after burn in. The 2 new tuning nozzles are physically shorter and with more dampening material which lowers the areas I spoke about earlier.
The good news here is that with the inclusion of these two new tuning nozzles makes the Prometheus much more versatile. The Prometheus goes from analytical and a bit brighter in tuning to a much more musical and even a slightly warm one. Ya you read right, a warm Simgot? The nozzles don’t seem to hamper any of the technical traits of a highly resolving planar driver being used for the Prometheus.
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The 2 new nozzles introduce a slightly warm one in the red ringed nozzle. The other set which is the same nozzle with different level of filter in it and black rings to differentiate from the other set is somewhere between the stock longer nozzles blue and copper and the new warm red ones. The initial longer nozzles have the most upper mids per Simgots harmon tuning philosophy and I had these nozzles long enough to actually get them to sound a lot like the new shorter ones. As they are, the gold nozzle has roughly 13dbs of pinna gain and to my ears does introduce a bit too much upper mids with the inclusion of that 8Khz emphasis. If the Prometheus was reviewed just using this particular nozzle, it would take a warmest sounding source and your thickest pure copper cable to tame that upper mid brightness.

Fortunately, we got choices. Using the longer blue nozzle things get a bit more interesting while still having what I am guessing to be about 11dbs of upper mids. This is the nozzle that comes preinstalled on the Prometheus. That enhanced 8 khz emphasis for trebles seems to highlight the upper mids even more so which makes the blue nozzle tolerable but not so much for your favorite rock tracks.

I know you're thinking, what would make these a good listenable IEM then? Even before Simgot created these two new shorter nozzles, I did some tinkering of my own. What I did was include the tuning foams from the EA1000 tuning kit. But that's a mod you say? Nope. If the inclusion of the new tuning nozzles are not enough for you. Adding a single foam piece underneath one of the included nozzles will smooth out the enhanced areas of emphasis for you.
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For my ears I like a foam piece underneath the blue fired nozzle. It takes a bit of the edge off the trebles and the upper mids for me. A bit more clarity above the new black ring nozzles, yet similar in balancing. The new red ringed short nozzle brings down the upper mids of the Prometheus to about 7dbs which makes them sound more balanced, the blacked ringed one seems to be about 8-9dbs. Now we are talking.

Simgot has given the end user. Choices, that saying we all hear differently is so true. It all comes down to just how much upper mids and trebles you like. The included nozzles and foam pieces are all as easy as screwing them on and in my case just inserting a piece of foam underneath the blue nozzle. And with each nozzle change I would highly recommend tip rolling to get the best possible sound for your use case.
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Trebles
I have heard plenty of IEMs using PZT or piezo drivers and the Prometheus has a very good integration of the PZT driver for its upper trebles air and detail elements. Its main point of contention is at that 8Khz where it clearly has some emphasis. Again, you can tinker with the foam pieces or the new included nozzles till you get that emphasis tamer than what comes with the copper nozzles. It's interesting that manufacturers seem to think they need to add another driver for upper treble extension and as you know PZT drivers were included to enhance that region. For IEMs that I have reviewed in the past, planar drivers seem to excel at trebles very well actually. I think I would have been more happy if Simgot used a more resolving dynamic driver for bass and just tuned the Planar here for mids and trebles. I know they have used the PZT in their quadbrids the SM4 and tribrid EW300 so maybe they are happy with the results of the PZT driver and carried over that to the Prometheus. In any case. If you're a treble fan you will be happy that the new Prometheus has plenty of treble presence and its extension is ideal. It might have a bit too much actually especially if you're sensitive to the 8Khz emphasized region. The copper nozzle is where it gets a bit much in the treble region in conjunction with the most upper mids for its tunings.
I doubt treble folks will complain about not having enough emphasis here. To be honest I actually like that the treble is not rolled off in the least bit. It's got a full on treble extension and presence for all things trebles. Tinkering with the included nozzles and foam pieces will get the trebles to be just right for you. As you can tell, all this takes a bit of time and my experiences with how I hear them now is in no way a knee jerk reaction to how they sound out of the box. This is one IEM where you have to spend a bit of time on it. In the end It will be worth that time to get them to sound just how you want to hear them.
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Mids.

This is the strength of the Prometheus,
So here is where those tuning nozzles will play a part in how you like your mids tonal qualities. The foundation for some smoother full bodied mids are there. The nicely resolving planar driver does a very capable job with the mids presentation which is more bodied than the mids from the SM4 and is more spacious with a better stage than the EW300. Overall sound with the right source can bring out some really good layering in space. Imaging is a strong suit of the Simgot IEM and the Prometheus delivers with a well separated image. I noticed planar timbre was more evident on open listen for the mids more so than how I hear them now. Overall it has natural tonal quality but can be manipulated with the nozzles. It can sound brighter with a more forward female vocal presentation, also highlighting stringed instruments- copper and blue nozzles. Or with a slight warmth and more body highlighting male vocals with a more balanced mids presence-2 new nozzles red and black ring new shorter nozzles. The large planer driver used while giving a bigger sense of stage is not the most dimensional sounding. I would say dimensionalism is an aspect for sound that is difficult to relay correctly. We use the word holography and dimensional and how that translates to how I hear the Prometheus is that it sounds more single plane in sound or more neutrally present vs imaging that floats in space from much higher end IEMs for example. At the given price point this aspect is certainly not bad but something I have noticed as Bone Conduction drivers are the new bell of the ball nowadays which helps with the dimensional aspects of a sound. I have reviewed other Planar IEMs the Letshoeur S12 pro and Dunu Talos, both of which also has a higher degree of resolve. The new Prometheus not only goes toe to toe with them in how resolving the sound can be but It has much more in the way of versatility in its tuning via nozzles and foam dampeners vs both those sets.
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Bass

Bass has a tasteful lift toward the sub bass with about 10 dbs of emphasis, an enthusiastic emphasized amount but not exactly basshead level. Simgot does not make basshead level IEMs, on the other hand I have yet to hear a Simgot made IEM with a weak neutral bass emphasis. Its bass ability is adaptable to all music types and genres but does portray the slightly quicker decay of planars for IEMs. And here is where I kinda miss the bass end of the old EA500 or better yet the EA1000. In comparison, that shorter decay does not bring the most textured bass performance. However, all is not lost, for something like speed metal and rock music with faster bass notes, planar bass is just as speedy as a well-designed BA driver. Advantage of the planar driver happens to be its speed, showing excellent tightness for the bass note. Now when it comes to a textured slower decaying woofer sub bass note, this is the area I feel a well vented dynamic will win just about every time for IEM applications. Prometheus has no issue handling a proper tonal character and emphasis for bass. The problematic area for me is in its texture for sub bass. Somewhat soft sounding but to be fair I am comparing the bass ability vs some of the best dynamic bass characteristics. For what it is, the bass end is very capable and even enjoyable. Its emphasis has enough mid to sub bass for proper pop, jazz, edm, hip hop and rock music but true bass aficionados will be wanting a bit more there especially from the sub bass notes from a quality perspective.

If sub bass especially is your thing for IEM performance. Even though the Simgot EA1000 bass emphasis is actually a bit less in emphasis. Its bass definition and texture are excellent at about the same price range.
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Closing thoughts.
Simgots new Prometheus is one of those IEMs where they will benefit greatly with some time on the burn-in station and nozzle rolling is required, know this when going into a purchase. The good news there is that each of the 4 nozzles bring a different sound profile, and one is bound to suit your own likes in the sound balancing which can be even more fine-tuned with dampening foams which are included in the packaging. If the trebles are a bit spicy for you from using any of the nozzles, again them tuning foams will do wonders for how you like to hear your trebles.
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I know Simgot has a following of enthusiasts that take their releases very seriously. The negative stuff you see and read about this IEM is not as bad as you think, and I don’t care who wrote or shot the video review about them. My advice is try not to take an open box review seriously. Because in my view that person is not actually testing the entirety of what the IEM is about or can do. The ET142 is an IEM that absolutely needs burn-in for better cohesion and fullness of sound. Then you have to tinker with the nozzles to figure out what sound balancing you prefer, then you have to tinker with your best tips after that to finish off that sound. For me it was a piece of dampening foam underneath the stock blue nozzle which ended up sounding good enough for me. The newer shorter nozzles Simgot has included on their newest packaging will actually get you closer to the sound balancing I have achieved, especially the black ringed short nozzle. If you're not one to tinker with nozzle filters you can just use that set. And it is with these newer nozzles that the sound achieves a good price to performance level for the Prometheus. Optimizing the sound of the Prometheus ends up being rewarding with an engaging musical sound, good technical chops with an organic tonal quality and why wouldn’t you want that for your new IEM. Thanks for taking the time to read.
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Flykites
Flykites
Kudos for Ministry. Love that album
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