Wired Earphones, Mixcder X5 In-Ear Earbud Headphones Metal Housing with Mic, Noise Reducing for 3.5mm Audio Output iPhone and other Smartphones - Blac

Introduction –

Mixcder have made an entrance on Head-fi with their economical but feature-filled products. While they might not be a household name, I’ve found their earphones to be both accessibly priced and competitive in performance. The X5 is one of their newest creations, a tough, sports-centric earphone with a meagre asking price of just $17.



Accessories –



The X5’s packaging is simple but practical with a small two tone box containing an instruction manual and hard case. Within the case lies the earphones, 3 pairs of silicone ear tips and 3 pairs of fins similar to those on Bose earphones that increase fit stability for activity. The included hard case is great, nicely sized and protective with a pocket on the inside to fold a few accessories.



The tips and fins are both of pleasing quality without deformity or moulding error though they are slightly stiff and hardly pamper the ear. The X5 while not the best presenting product, is again, practical and functional.



Design –



The X5 is a medium-large but well-sculpted earphone that exceeds its asking price in both looks and feel. The housings are entirely aluminium with nice solidity and a cool feel in the hand. The earphones themselves look hardy and perfectly assembled, they easily outclass the plastic Fiio earphones.



Comfort is quite good but since the earphones are a bit larger, they did form a hotspot at the backs of my ears after a few hours of listening. The nozzles are well-angled and quite thin, permitting moderate insertion depth. With the right ear tips, the earphones fit and sealed reliably. Isolation is just average due to small vents on the bottom and inner face of the earphones though they did suffice for public transport. Stability, even without the stabiliser wings was great though the fins effectively provided that extra layer of stability when running.



Unfortunately, the cable isn’t quite as flawless, it’s one of the worst I’ve handled even among budget earphones. The cable is plasticky and stiff with a lot of memory; even after a month, the cable has retained the kinks it had when packaged. At least the jack and earpieces have some strain-relief though the thin cable does not inspire confidence like the Kevlar unit on Fiio’s earphones or the fabric woven cable on the Pistons earphones. The cable is also really microphonic, they can easily be inverted and worn over-ear but are pretty awkward to wear inverted with fins when running. The cable has an inline remote and mic that worked reliably in my testing. The microphone quality was pretty decent, easily sufficing for calls and memos.



Sound –



From first listen, the X5 was immediately quite balanced for such a cheap earphone. In particular, the X5’s really surprised me with their clarity and treble extension, without sounding overdone of course. And that’s important to note because my biggest gripe with the vast majority of budget earphones is their lack of refinement; for instance, having clarity with a warped midrange or sub-bass slam with a huge lack of definition and texture, all commonplace at this price. The X5’s are luckily devoid of either, stacking up reasonably well to models such as the Fiio F1 and even Xiaomi Pistons 3’s but they still lack the technical ability of earphones like the Fiio F3 and Xiaomi Hybrid Pro’s.



Tonality –

The X5’s are a v-shaped earphone with a brighter tonal balance. Treble has the greatest emphasis by a small margin though bass retains pleasing balance. The midrange is recessed though vocals remain clear even on more recessed tracks. The high-end can get a bit fatiguing during extended listening and isn’t the best suited towards high volume listening during activity though it is an engaging and reasonably resolving signature that performs well considering the asking price.



Soundstage, Imaging and Separation –

The X5’s have a surprisingly good soundstage amongst similarly priced earphone. Space is good, both width and depth. The earphones never reach beyond the head, but the sound is hardly congested or closed in either. Imaging is pretty decent though directional cues and layering aren’t clear as on more expensive earphones. Separation is mediocre, bass and treble notes, in particular, can get a bit smeared. The X5’s are certainly no worse than similarly priced models in that regard, however, and the darker F1 and Piston 3 both sound more congested than the clearer X5 and F3.


Bass –

The low-end is characterised by tones rather than details and bass doesn’t have a whole lot of texture or definition; though most earphones around this price don’t particularly impress here either. Extension is moderate, they don’t quite have the sub-bass extension and slam of the Piston 3 or Fiio earphones though they do provide some rumble and kick to the lowest notes. Mid-bass has the greatest emphasis, producing some bass bloat, though spill is minimal and the bass never gets particularly sloppy or muddy. Bass is also pretty fast for a budget earphone, when listening to “Another Day of Sun” from the Lala Land OST, the X5 did a great job keeping up with the rapid bass notes which were easily muddled by the Fiio F1.


Mids –

The X5 has a slightly unnatural midrange though the presentation is easily enjoyable nonetheless. Mid notes have great clarity and a sense of rawness that is quite revealing of details. The midrange has a brighter tonal tilt which puts increased emphasis on female vocals. This opposes the darker presentations of the Fiio F1 and Piston 3, making it a great alternative for lovers of pop, rock, Asian genres and acoustic. The X5 has far more clarity than both in addition to a little more resolution though the earphones can come off as overly thin and even slightly hollow at times. Detailing is good, similar to the F1 though the Piston 3 is slightly more detailed despite being less aggressive.



Treble –

Treble tuning is quite unorthodox for a budget earphone with quite a forward middle treble response that makes the earphones considerably brighter than the F1 and Piston 3. The X5’s tuning is more in line with the more aggressive F3 and those looking for a more revealing, resolving and forward earphone will find the X5 to deliver in spades. Extension is very good for such a cheap earphone, better than the F1 and Piston and similar to the F3 and Hybrid Pro. High notes are very clear but lack a bit of crispness and separation meaning that high-end can get quite busy on a lot of tracks. Once again, clarity is really great to the high-end though treble notes such as cymbals, higher strings and high-hats can all sound a bit thin and strident. The earphones can get fatiguing at higher volumes, but for shorter sessions, the X5’s produce appreciably more detail and resolution to high notes that the F1 and Piston don’t even reproduce.



Verdict –



The X5 isn’t the most fantastic, flawless budget earphone I’ve ever heard and it doesn’t redefine my perception of pricing or value. But what Mixcder do provide is a nicely rounded experience that works stunningly well for its intended purposes. The included case is utilitarian, the metal build is nothing but solid and the silicone fins provide plenty of stability for activity. The X5’s also sound pretty nice, their quality is nice for the asking price and the brighter tonality provides a great alternative to the mostly darker, more bass focussed earphones on the market. I still don’t find them quite as refined as offerings from Fiio and their cable is pretty cheap, but the X5’s are a solid option for those with a more active lifestyle and listeners who prefer a nicely detailed, revealing tonality.

Verdict – 7/10, The X5 is a nicely revealing budget earphone with remarkable build quality. The cable quality is concerning and the high-end can get fatiguing, but the X5’s remain a balanced and feature packed earphone that should be a serious option within this price range.

Mixcdr X5 in-ear sport-The little IEM that could…



Marketed as an in-ear sports headphone, the Mixcder X5 comes in at a really tough place, and with a harder task: be good, be inexpensive and be versatile. After my listening, and with much sweat, abuse, and pure listening, I can say the little IEM performed easily an equal to the included IEM/buds provided with Smartphones. And mostly bettered those included “listening devices.” This is a fine IEM, and one, which can be recommended heartily as either a replacement or a good extra pair.




Provided free of charge, in return all @Mixcder asks for is an honest review. Thank you, Denise and company!





Initial Impressions:



Initially a darker sound emanated, with the included silicon tips. Slightly muddy mids could be heard, but with decent reach low and mostly high. Clarity lacked a bit, which to me gave that slight muddy sound. A tamed treble could be heard that was not obstructed mind you, just not the clarity of higher priced earbuds. Still better than the standard fare included with Smartphones.



But, when I switched to a new set of Comply’s, the sound was wonderful. A wholly different avenue provided a concise, rich, and easily among the best sub-$20 Earbud/IEM I have heard sound. This made me glad. I was mightily impressed.



I ran the x5 with new Comply’s on the treadmill with my x5iii and Tidal for my second session. The sound was actually quite nice, almost like a futbol team that runs a target forward with two attacking mids to form that attacking triangle…Yes, the target is the key (the forward mids on the x5), but without the service of the attacking mids, either side (bass and treble of course…), the target means nothing. I do think that was on purpose, too. When one exercises, it is pretty important to have the vocals up front so you can hear them under adverse listening conditions. I did not mind. If you are a fan of the English Premier League, think Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil supporting Olivier Giroud, from MY favorite team, Arsenal FC.




My go-to exercise set up is now my Shanling M1 and the X5 as a result of that synergy. Quick to organize, easy to use and eminently portable; this set would run you less than $175 for an excellent sounding portable. My only problem was that I could not use it more!


The shape does remind me of the Dunu Titan 1. Not a bad shape to mimic in my book. Quality is quite good, regardless of price; but made all the more impressive BY its price point. An easy to use, near-non-tangling cable is part of the reward. With a fairly stiff covering, it should also be quite durable. Throw in a nice sized case with room for extra tips, and a carabineer and you have a very good compliment of goodies for $16.99.





Specs:



Website: https://www.mixcder.com/mixcderr-x5-wired-eaphone.html

From their website, and a good message to boot:

High Fidelity Sound
High performance speaker ensures extended frequency range. Enhance the bass and crisp high so that you can fully enjoy the distinct and natural sound.

Effortless to Use
With extremely flexible tangle-free cable including inline controller, you can control the calls and music via the multi-functional button. Short press to play, pause music or answer a call. Long press to reject or end a call. Built-in microphone makes you free to chat with your friends or listening to music for leisure, running, jogging and etc.

Design for 3.5mm Jack
3.5mm jack devices ideal for all Apple devices, Androids smartphones, Tablets, Computers, MP3/MP4 players and more.

Speaker diameter: Φ12.4±0.3mm
Frequency response: 20Hz-20KHz
Impedance: 32Ω±15%
S.P.L: 80±3dB S.P.L at 1KHzS
Microphone Unit: Φ4*1.5mm

Package Contents:
- Wired earphone*1
- Multi-function package*1
- User’s manual*1
- Ear tips*3 pairs(S/L/Dual shape)
- Ear hook*2 pairs (S/L)

Backed by Our 12-Month Warranty So Order RISK FREE
If you have problems with your Mixcder Headphones during normal use, send them back within 12 months of purchase for a free replacement or refund. Add to cart NOW & get extras for your gift list!




Deeper Impressions:


After nearly two weeks of HARD use, the X5 has come through my boot camp unscathed. From being forcefully yanked out of my ear by errant tree branches whilst I mow; to hard vigorous, sweaty exercise routines there was no complaint, no slowing of sound, or pace. A full rich sound was had whether I had the included silicons mounted, or my preferred Comply tips; it did not matter. Both isolated almost equally well, which was kind of scary to be honest. Something fairly rare to me, that both silicon and Comply’s sounded nearly identical, it was a pleasant surprise.



Microphone placement to me was a bit odd, and too high on the cable. As others have mentioned, if used over ear, the mic was not readily accessible. In the down position, while it did work, and well, it was a bit too high for my tastes. I do understand why, though. If one is to use this for exercise, then you need ready access to the button. If the mic was lower, it would be hidden below your shirt and not as accessible. A compromise, one would guess, and I can certainly live with it. And as stated, the mic works quite well. Again, I was on the phone in quite windy conditions, and my wife could hear me well, without much intrusion by the wind. So, good work there by Mixcder.


Upon my initial listen, which was on a “fairly vigorous” walk, the isolation proved strong. Stronger than the 20+mph winds, with gusts to 35+ the X5 paid no attention, allowing me to focus on my “vigorous” pace and the sound coming from my Shanling M1. This turned out to be my favorite combo and one, which I will use on most workouts and mowing sessions.



Throughout my time (which continues, thankfully) I became quite enamored with the sound quality of the x5. The mids are pushed a bit too forward, but for working out, this isn’t really a bad thing. I found the best fit for me, was to run the x5 down, like an ear bud. That said, I did try them over ear, and while it did work, it was more trouble than it was worth. Using these like an ear bud is a definite advantage for easier ingress/egress from ones ear.


Coming from my personal more expensive IEM’s, one would think there would be little comparison, or that said comparo would not be fair. But oh contraire! This little $17 gem did indeed compare and compare well with my more expensive offerings. Running head-to-head against the Tennmak Pro and MEE M6 Pro, the x5 held its own. So much so, that in my pecking order it has almost usurped the M6 Pro for workout and lawn duties. It is much easier to use compared to the others, too.


Sound stage seemed to be a bit further back than others in this range…almost like being behind the stage at a concert. I would call it a decent sound stage, too. Not too big, nor too tall, but right there.





Specifics:



As stated above, fit is pretty good, as is the cable. That is all well and fine, but what does that have to do with the sound?! Ummm…I’m drawing a loss, so on to the sound…



Bass:

A good decent bass thump can be heard through most songs, and while not bass-head deep nor strong it is quite acceptable, especially for that added push when you are working out. Some say it bleeds into the mids, and I would agree a bit, but state that to me it works the other way…mids bleed into the bass. An excellent example would be the live version (Austin City Limits) of Mary Had a Little Lamb. Good extension, not overwhelming and certainly there where you need it.



Mids:

The strong point to me, and the most forward (contrary to what another reviewer stated, I believe it to be a bit forward, like my futbol example). A strong mid section can tie both the sound together, and tie it well. Pushed forward, it does not hinder the bass nor treble too much in my humble opinion. With my Comply’s, the mids are not congested at all, and hold the whole X5 together. Only when compared to more expensive IEM’s, does it falter. A nice compliment to the sound engineers, indeed.



Treble:

Tamed a bit so not to be too harsh, the treble has decent extension. Separation to me is less than stellar, and the worst of the three sound signatures. The trebles tend to run together. I have a hard time adjusting to where the higher notes are meant to be, exactly. It is not bad mind you, and for this pricepoint, still quite good.



Soundstage:

Narrower, less deep but taller (to me) the X5 does well at keeping my attention. While still outside of my head (barely), the added height gives me a sense of reaching for that higher level. I do like a wider sound stage, but this is quite good for the price range. SRV’s May I Have a Talk With You is an excellent extension of what I mention. I get the sense that Stevie’s guitar is ten feet tall, and it should be. This is an incredibly powerful, crisp song with riffs, which can drive IEM’s to the exits, for fear of not being able to work together…not so with the X5. I get the sense that the X5 is right there, in the front row, or better yet, ABOVE the front row, taping its feet to every riff. Not shy at all, and a good example of what the X5 is capable of..



Instrument Separation:

As expected, this can be a limiting factor of this price point, and one would not be wrong. But the Mixcder holds itself up well with enough sense of separation that one can get a fair gauge of where the instruments should be. Again, to use the phrase again…quite acceptable.

Link to my video review:






Finale:


Upon finding out I was lucky enough to participate, and receive the complimentary copy of the Mixcder X5, I was pleasantly surprised and cleared a spot for comparison. Thinking back, I immediately came up with two worthy competitors: the M6 Pro, and Tennmak Pro. While I did compare the three, I spent the majority of the time with the X5, and rightly so. While the M6 Pro is quite a stunning unit for its price($50), the sound is a touch on the bright side. With better bass reach, which somewhat compensates for the harshness of treble, I do still like the M6 Pro, but it now usually sits on my shelf when I exercise; replaced by the X5.

As for the Tennmak Pro, I purchased this on a recommendation, and I am quite happy with the $22 price. A robust bass helps hide the deficiencies of treble, and middling mids. Good sound stage helps hide to lack of treble, but it too sits on my shelf. I do still like the Tennmak, but not quite like the X5.

One might ask, why I included my comparisons in the Finale section. And one could grumble about it, without question from me. But please, bear with me.



Listening to Change It, the song seems to typify the strengths of the X5. A good bass, good reach, and an attitude of the same of SRV in the song. Having heard that same song two of the four times I saw him, it is hauntingly strong live. Almost ghost-like SRV comes from the dusty town, raising the saloon from the dead. Making it real, but not quite. A stirring rendition for the dying of our small towns, well before many realized what was happening; the parallel to the X5 is there.



Taking the Smartphone “headphone” and kicking it to the curb, the X5 rekindles what an inexpensive IEM/Earbud SHOULD sound like. Much the way Stevie Ray revels in that small town, the X5 takes on most comers and at least earns the respect of the big boys. And does so, well. Many advertise to be “replacements” for the included buds, but fewer can actually supplant the included at a VERY affordable price. The Mixcder X5 succeeds, and with an attitude, which draws the respect of all who listen.


This is a very good entry into our world of portable audio replacement; and well worth the money investment. I am quite pleased with the little IEM that could, and it has become my daily workout IEM.

I thank @Mixcder and Denise for their prompt attention to this thread, and the opportunity to review their product for Head-Fi. They are a company, which would like to expand into this market and I wish them the very best of luck. Thank you!

The Mixcder X5 is a 12.4mm dynamic driver IEM. It is housed inside a tough aluminum shell, a variety of over ear clips as well as tips are provided. A nice case is included which neatly houses all the components securely. All sound analysis will be done with my Chord Mojo. I received the X5’s free in exchange for my honest review.


I don’t think I have gone deaf since switching to the X5 but I am finding I have to crank the X5 quite a bit to get it up to sufficient volume. I’m on single pink right now on my Mojo which would likely be doing permanent damage to my ears if I was listening to my other IEMs. So what does this mean for you? You may need a lot of power to drive these properly but once driven properly I think you will find they far exceed their asking price.

The X5’s are definitely warm with the mid bass being dominant followed shortly behind in the mid bass is the sub bass which slams with authority-something I haven’t often seen in an IEM this small. The X5’s have a laid back yet big sound with a full bodied lower midrange, and articulate vocals that sound natural and convey emotion.

To analyze the stage of the X5’s I used Lenny White’s binaural recording Stank from the album Explorations in Space and Time and General Resolution and Imaging Test from Chesky’s Jazz and More Audiophile Tests Volume 2 album. The stage has good height in the y-axis and good width in the x-axis while the overall is circular with full head wrap around and centered mostly in the eye level. The stage is centered slightly forward of the Xy intersection with there being more stage in front of the ears than behind. The shaker in the Chesky track moves further out in front of the face than it does behind the head when it’s circling around. I have confirmed this soundstage with multiple sources. The various drums on Stank are reproduced correctly with space between them in the X plane and they do not sound as though they are competing for space. Keywords: Moderate, Circular


I will again be using the General Image and Resolution Test, this time to test the reproduction of texture detail of the X5’s. The most highly resolving headphones I’ve ever heard are the 64 Audio apex A18’s with the M15 module. I use this IEM as my benchmark for comparing the resolution capabilities of other headphones. I find that the shaker used in this Chesky track is extremely detailed on the A18’s, miniscule and minute details of the shaker come through clearly and the texture of the sound is highly defined, clear and felt as though the shaker is in the room with you. The X5’s lose some of that texture but that’s to be expected comparing a $3,000 IEM to a $16 IEM. For their price the X5’s provide a great amount of detail that far exceeds every other IEM I’ve heard in the $50 range and below. If the X5 struggles at any aspect of resolution it’s assigning weight to sound at the very farthest reaches of the stage where they can sometimes sound a bit airy when they should be weighty such as the Sonar Drums on Mark Nauseef’s Gears from the With Space In Mind album. Keywords: Good Resolution


A top of the line transparent headphone should be free of distortion and have a natural tone. These two things among other factors create transparency. Tuning for transparency is often a balancing act between dynamism and naturalism. The X5’s are firmly in the dynamic camp. The sound is large, thick, full bodied and bold. Keywords: Dynamic

Thurman Green’s Minor Blue Is one of the best tracks to test an IEM’s layering and separation abilities, there is a lot of space between the performers and the recording is a masterpiece. As the track gradually increases in complexity, I find the X5’s do an admirable job presenting the space between the players. This track focuses on space in the y axis more than any other track I’ve heard as the players seem to be almost in a sort of V pattern. Moving up the V we should be able to hear the space between the players. The X5 conveys this space and I never felt as though the X axis was congested or the height compressed. Keywords: Very Good Layering and Separation, Good imaging


Others have reported the X5 can be sibilant. I do not hear any sibilance with the X5. I hear a sparkly and high reaching high end but never does it cross over to sibilance for me. To test sibilance I used Angellore’s track A Shrine Of Clouds from the La Litanie Des Cendres album, it sounded sweet, airy and beautiful as it should. Keywords: Well Extended, Not Sibilant


I would echo the sentiment of others with regard to the midrange of the X5. It is full-bodied, rich, detailed but also slightly less resolving due to mid bass bleed. It can be a good thing if you like some rumble in your mid bass punch. I also find this bump increases the weight and emotive power of male vocals. If you enjoy a heavy knockout punch with long decay as opposed to a tidy punch you’ll like the X5’s. The bleed does reduce some of the texture definition and detail reproduction in the upper mids but it isn’t a drastic reduction. Listen to Pass Hopes from Messe Noire’s Black Metal masterpiece In Shadows and Dust and the bass bleed will be obvious. Keywords: Rumble, Lower Mid Dominant, Slight Bass Bleed


Unlike the mid bass the sub bass does not bleed into the rest of the sound, it hits hard and with authority but it’s tidy in decay while attack is quick and hard. I find bass extension to be solid and X5 is able to go deep with regard to sub bass tone. Keywords: Deep Tone Extension, Fast Attack


I found that the X5’s aren’t the kind of IEMs that really go deep in the canal, they are designed just barely insert into the exterior of the canal (at least that’s how they fit me). I find them comfortable as long as I don’t push them in too deep. There is a slight issue which I have photographed below:
The edge where the disc shaped top of the IEM meets the flat body should be revised such that the disc shaped portion slightly overtakes the edge on the flat portion because the flat portion can be sharp when pushed against the skin.


S7 Edge: Of course S7 Edge cannot compete with Mojo or the CDM with regard to things like layering, high definition textures, imaging, separation and resolution but it does well with the X5 if you enjoy EDM, rap, hip hop or other bass heavy genres. I didn’t like the pairing with classical, metal or rock.

Mojo: Soundstage was slightly smaller than the CDM but larger than the S7 Edge. The mid bass bleed was tightened up a bit and the sparkly highs were tamed. Sub bass was deep but tidy and well textured, detail was good across the spectrum.

ALO CDM: The most noticeable change with this pairing was separation improved and as a side effect the imaging as well. The bass went a bit deeper and the stage increased in all directions, the largest stage was with the CDM.


I always try to find improvements no matter how minor. The aforementioned edge issue is the biggest comfort issue I had with the X5’s. It was only noticeable if I pushed them in but towards the end of the day my right ear was a bit sore from it. I would also like to see the mid bass bleed tightened up.


The X5 is a tremendous value for a low price, you get a warm detailed signature with a good soundstage, emotive weighty vocals, deep sub bass, rumbly mid bass and well extended highs. Layering and Separation are on par with much more expensive headphones and detail retrieval is good as well. Overall a large, epic and dynamic sound at a great price. Well done Mixcder.