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.

Introduction/Disclaimer:
 
I would like to thank Denise with Mixcder for the opportunity to review the X5 in ear monitor headphones. They provided me a free sample in exchange for my honest opinion. I assumed by the initial description that these IEMs would go for around $50 or higher. Bad assumption. Current price on Amazon is $17 (see link below). 
 
Mixcder requested that reviews be completed within a week after receipt.  Normally, I would spend more time than this getting to know a headphone or IEM.  Keep this in mind for the review below.
 
My Background and Sound Preference:
 
I joined Head-Fi back in 2009 when I started researching headphones for travel. Thousands of dollars later, I’ve built up a collection of mostly budget (under $200) IEMs and headphones. Not an audiophile by any stretch of the imagination. Starting out, I was definitely a basshead. However, the last couple of years or so I’ve come to appreciate other aspects of good sound like vocal clarity, instrument details/separation and bass quality that doesn’t overwhelm everything else.
 
 
Specs and Accessories:
 
Here is a link to Mixcder’s website which has the specs and included accessories:
 
https://www.mixcder.com/mixcderr-x5-wired-eaphone.html
 
 
Link to Amazon for Purchase:
 
https://www.amazon.com/Headphones-Mixcder-Housing-Reducing-Smartphones/dp/B06XD6QTT7/ref=sr_1_1
 
 
Build Quality and General Usage Observations:
 
The X5s came in a simple, thin cardboard box a little smaller than my hand. Inside was the case packed with the IEMs, ear guides, shirt clip and ear tips. The case is very good quality and provides plenty of protection for a backpack, luggage or pants pocket.
 
The black cable is on the thin side and has a plastic like coating. It does have some memory to it but not a gargantuan amount like some others I’ve had (e.g. UE TF10). Strain relief seems adequate for this price range. The shirt clip pivots all around which means it can be clipped at multiple angles if desired. The single button control on the cable paused and started music while using my phone.
 
The ear pieces themselves are metal and have a good feel to them. I recall years ago $17 would get you some cheap Sonys or Philips with plastic housings that would short out or fall apart after only a few hours of use. The quality of budget IEMs these days has definitely gone up several notches.
 
Lastly in this section I would like to point out that the provided ear tips actually worked for me! This rarely happens even with more expensive sets. The ear pieces stay in place and are very comfortable.
 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Sound Quality:
Basically, my ears interpret the sound of the X5s as a skewed, mild “v” shape with the skew at the bass end of the spectrum. I think any admitted basshead would be happy with these. Perhaps not some of the “hardcore” bassheads that are in the Head-Fi threads with that description. Still, I find the bass to be strong, textured and of decent quality. Sub-bass is present along with mid-bass. Mids and treble both take a back seat. However, I find the vocals to still be clear and enjoyable. Treble is non-fatiguing (fortunately) and has decent extension. Don’t expect a lot of details though. But, definitely acceptable for the price (did I mention they sell for $17?).
 
I’m no expert on sound stage, but I will convey what I hear. Vocals are in the head while instruments are just outside the left and right ears. The instrument separation is pretty good for this price range.
 
The X5s are easy to drive and sound great out of a phone or DAP.  Isolation is about average for a IEM.
 
Phone Calls:
 
I made several phone calls using the X5s. I had no problems hearing the other parties. Likewise, the other parties did not complain about my vocal quality. Also didn’t hear any static or interference during any of the calls.
 
Conclusion:
 
I could nit-pick about the small amount of cable memory present or that the treble could have a little more sparkle or be more smooth or refined or that the vocals could be a little more forward while the bass could be a toned down a bit, but for the price (did I mention that they cost $17), I can’t find much to complain about for an IEM with good build quality and sound. A lot has definitely changed in audio gear over the past few years.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
Notes:
 
This review was performed using 320 Kbps MP3s and FLAC files of various genres (mostly classic rock and EDM (e.g. Infected Mushroom)). Listening levels were moderate to moderately loud. DAPs used were Rockboxed Xduoo X3 (flat EQ), Cowon Plenue D (rock setting) and a Samsung Galaxy S6 (PowerAmp).

mixcder x5 review by The Modding Den:
 

Package:
thoughts on package:
box is great eco change from the plastic,
you get on other headsets .
the colors are nice and bright but not too loud.
the case included is very nice .
comes with multi tips in different sizes.
 
Package pics:

 

 

 

 
 
Whats in the box:

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
Shot of the Play/answer/pause button/mic:

 
 
side by side shot / cord length(pop iem right and X5 Left)
(standard dinner table below/lol I had to)

 
(Pop IEM)
 

 
 
(Mixcder X5)
 

 
 
 
default tips seem to be to small for my big ear ports,
i almost  slide them all the way in i felt.
I use a s4 stock headphone ear tips on popular iem from Hisound’s  UK that was bought from,
HeadFi forum sponsor. and these units had issues with the included tips.
and cause what i feel made folks doubt them. with the s4 tips the base came in,
and was what i liked. but then again I love Hollywood Sound labs 12" tube subs .
we had 2 running in a friends car  on a refurb soundlabs amp.
At this time I was also  getting stuff from MCM Electronics and happen on the pyle display package tweeter ,
 with a crossover you had to solder on to get max rms. and these thing made your ears bleed,
and it let me hear sound that i never heard from  NWA classics to other music horns that hit hard,
but were so clean . the x5's come with a close to this mix. the highs are there but so is the bass .
and this was with out an amp straight on the moto x play.

All further results will be with the large tips and
 I'll include  magni amp results.
With out amp Moto Xplay direct:
So play back with the huge tips on(did I mention I hate switching tips).
Bass is there and highs are bright and clear . not all of my recordings like ,
these  headphones . Beyerdynamic has a recording of the Grateful Dead that i use and with these headset you get some of the detail in the  tune Space but 
popular iem,ATH AD700s , Razor Moray in ears render this tune better. 
with the x5's you get the highs no problem.
Slayers rain in blood  ,Necrophobic also seem to lose the mids and bass to the track . these speakers try and go down low but can't with this tune/song style none amped. 
Rap songs fair better . Shawnna- hit the back/slide in and some others seem to do ok with it. but others you lose a bit of detail/low end that others pic up even with my bad copies now this could be why but on others headsets i have i get a fuller sound.
While still Nas the world is yours seemed to be missing the bass(could be my copy though) but I do swear it is there in the other headsets.
This testing was all done on a MotoXplay.
 pause button/play worked no issue.
I will try it with songs on a Iphone 5s as well to test out other tunes my other half has in mp3. my songs were all in Flac converted from mp3 or recorded as Flac or ogg or mp3(really i still have these).
I will test with the Magni amp(version1)
 on the desktop as well.
I can't find my cmoy amp right now  but will post on with that at a later time.
now just with 2 songs the world is yours by Nas and Necrophobic by Slayer on the desktop amp showed improved sound and that they can take a bit of juice.
from a wisper to a few clicks up I played  necrophobic and no distortion or anything and could of gone more  a bit of a surprise there these are only 16.99 at amazon + shipping etc. so not expecting this.
Post Modern Jukebox  Call me Maybe was another track I used on the desktop with the Magni amp w built in sound and it sounds great .
the slayer track still seems weak on the drums but  once again older song and not sure of original source. 
 
The testing was done on this pc:
System:    Host: linbeast Kernel: 4.10.1-041001-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 6.2.0)&4.10.11.041011-generic x86_64
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.2.7 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.2) dm: mdm Distro: Linux Mint 18.1 Serena()
Machine:   Mobo: ASRock model: 970M Pro3
 Bios: American Megatrends v: P1.30 date: 09/01/2015
CPU:       Octa core AMD FX-8320 Eight-Core (-MCP-) cache: 16384 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm) bmips: 55877)
           clock speeds: min/max: 1400/3500 MHz 1: 1400 MHz 2: 1400 MHz 3: 1400 MHz 4: 2300 MHz
           5: 1400 MHz 6: 1700 MHz 7: 1700 MHz 8: 1400 MHz
Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA GM107 [GeForce GTX 750 Ti] bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:1380
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.3 drivers: nvidia (unloaded: fbdev,vesa,nouveau)
           Resolution: 1920x1080@60.00hz
           GLX Renderer: GeForce GTX 750 Ti/PCIe/SSE2
           GLX Version: 4.5.0 NVIDIA 378.13 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card-1 NVIDIA Device 0fbc driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:0fbc
           Card-2 Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA)
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:14.2 chip-ID: 1002:4383
           Card-3 Logitech driver: USB Audio usb-ID: 002-002 chip-ID: 046d:082c
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.10.1-041001-generic
Network:   Card: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
           driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: d000 bus-ID: 05:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8168
           IF: enp5s0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 1616.6GB (24.2% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: WDC_WD10EZEX size: 1000.2GB serial: WD-WMC1S0794227
           ID-2: /dev/sdb model: WDC_WD6000HLHX size: 600.1GB serial: WD-WXK1E72YYC34
           ID-3: USB /dev/sdc model: USB_Flash_Drive size: 16.2GB serial: AA180B2800000024-0:0
Partition: ID-1: / size: 106G used: 53G (53%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdb2
RAID:      System: supported: N/A
           No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
           Unused Devices: none
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 12.0C mobo: N/A gpu: 0.0:28C
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 262 Uptime: 3:12 Memory: 2009.1/11970.4MB
           Init: systemd v: 229 runlevel: 5 default: 2 Gcc sys: 6.2.0 alt: 5
           Client: Unknown python2.7 client inxi: 2.2.35
and:
 
the Moto Xplay .

These headphones when amped shine drums are crisp and highs are good,
and for me with large tips not that bright in the highs area.
bass in rap music  shines, and falls back in  heavy metal. Post Modern Jukebox tune has base but it is a full sound when amped and not the stock tips.
this is of course for me . 
 
Gaming:

I tried it out on my game of choice The game of Rust
games sounded  different for sure all testing was done with  music in background turned off as it tends to mess you up.
background ,steps(on different materials were a treat) .
But would take a bit to get use too after the ad 700's.
 
Play /pause/answer button placement:
I feel  is a con for this  unit but not a deal breaker and here is why,
I wear these iem's  with button on the right side with large tips and it feels good /they don't fall out.
I'm not sure if this is right as it may place mic on wrong.(may be my old eyes not seeing  right or left mark).
I've worn them both ways but with play button on the right it feels better.
 
End:
I would try tips to find your setup and give em a go. worth the cash.
Can you get cheaper  sure  but are they as good  most likely not.
now me and the love of my life will have to fight over these or the popular iem.
 while others who got them thought they sucked.(not) .
We will see which one of us  get's  what .(she got the others/these are mine).
I use the ath ad700's most of the time with my amp to game etc.
so these will be travel use headset for now.
I use to wear the ad700 out with my cmoy amp and phone.
so smaller headset setup but great sound.
get them on:

 https://www.amazon.com/Headphones-Mixcder-Housing-Reducing-Smartphones/dp/B06XD6QTT7/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492515246&sr=8-1&keywords=Mixcder+X5
 
 
 
Disclaimer:
I am a hobbyist only. I am NOT affiliated with any sellers or manufacturers for items that may be used in my review, nor at this time am I provided with any samples for endorsement or reviews. I purchase all of my own gear. I do However, post links to the particular individual seller from whom I have made my purchase of the item under review. These reviews reflect my personal opinions of the performance and general information about the item, and should not be used as a basis for any purchase. As I am a Tad sensitive to higher frequencies, your impressions may also vary from my own. I will try to offer comparisons as long as I have something similar both in price and construction to compare. If however at any time I am provided a sample for review, I will disclose this fact immediately on an additional disclaimer.
 
 
Preamble and additional Disclaimer:
I would like to thank Mixcder and Denise for supplying me a review sample in return for an honest review of their new product. I wish I had enough time parameter for a Full burn in and Complete comparison however.  For this Writer a week simply isn’t enough, and my opinions can drastically change with time permitting. I certainly hope I haven't done an injustice to these finely Crafted IEMs with a hasty review.
 
 
Specifications:  They are available from Seller’s Link above
 
 
 
At the risk of redundancy this is an abreviated Photo of The X5 and Packaging:

 
 
Construction: 
Mildly surprised about the construction of these. On close inspection all major components are nicely finished METAL, IEM Housings, Line Mic., Y splitter and Cinch and Plug and Body. Well molded rubber standoffs everywhere, and a surprisingly robust feeling cable. At first I thought it was just your regular Teflon sheathed stuff but once I felt and inspected it, the cable appears to be braided cloth with a rubberized outer coating. These should wear very well. No noticeable microphonics either. As I don’t use a Mic. I will leave this aspect up to other reviewers.
 
 
Source Details: 
For this particular review I used my Shanling M5 coupled with an Aune B1 portable amp. My Files are all at Least 320kbps to 96khz high resolution files. I used this source in all comparisons.   
 
 
Source Material:
The following is a list of songs that I used in this review. Some I use all the time, some less frequently. They all contain some type of frequency, Detail, or EQ that make them suitable for reference.
 
Christina Novelli -- Concrete Angel (Long Version)
Christina Novelli – Save Me (Long Version)
Weather Report --- Mysterious Traveler (various cuts)
John Bryson --- Let the Pipes play (full pipe organ album 1^st Cut)
Vivaldi – Four Seasons
Dire Straits --- Sultans of Swing
SOAK --- Immigrant Song
Infected Mushroom --- Kipod
Lee Rittenour --- 6 String Theory (various cuts)
Mahavishnu Orchestra --- Birds of Fire
 
 
 
 
General Sound Quality:
They are a V Shaped EQ with a well-controlled and somewhat elevated Mid Bass. Some Sub Bass extension, some rumble, however it is maybe a little Loose on the basement floor. Nice Mids. Not too forward or so recessed that you can't make out vocals, just a nice neutral - ISH sweet spot. I tried some pretty sibilant stuff but the Highs are rolled off enough that it wasn't a Factor. Fair Detail and Micro Details. Rather smallish sound stage.  All in all a Pleasant, (albeit consumer-oriented), and what should be non-fatiguing listen for most.
 
 
 
Bass:
 The sub-bass extension is Fair, and the X5 handles them with some questionable looseness. The Mid Bass, is somewhat elevated, and can bleed over a tad when presented with Bass-heavy material. Over all the Bass frequencies are fairly well-mannered if not average for a V shaped EQ.
 
 
Mids:
Mids Are in a nice place, maybe a little recessed but still good. They lack Upper airiness and Detail, which along with the rolled off Treble give the X5 a darker but certainly listenable presence.
 
 
Treble:
The Treble is… well, not harsh, piercing, or intrusive in any way. I find them to have a roll off  before the onset of brightness which lends them to a quite listenable, but helps to further accentuate a somewhat darker quality. They lack detail however.
 
 
 
Photo of the 3 single driver IEMs in my brief comparison. I forgot to include the KZ ED9 in the family pic:

 
 
 
Comparisons:
As a week is just too, short of time for some burn-in and In-depth comparisons, I will give the Simple Facts, BUT THESE ARE MY PERSONAL OPINION ONLY, Please do not use this as a scale for opinions concerning purchasing as YMMV.
 
Mixcder X5 > Memt X5
 
Zero Audio Carbo Tenore > Mixcder X5 (Keep in mind the Tenores are about 2x $$$$)
 
Mixcder X5 > KZ ED9 (bright brass filter)
 
 
 
Conclusion:
Price point, Construction, and Performance Equal a Budget product that competently does what an IEM is supposed to do. I can recommend this IEM as a good place to start in this hobby, Gym use, or even Daily commuters. Even if you are a seasoned listener.

First off, a heart-felt thank you to Mixcder for the chance to give these a try.   New gear is always fun and the opportunity to try out gear as it comes to market is indeed a privilege.    Mixcder provided me this sample pair in exchange for my unbiased review. 
 
 
A short note about me:  I am a music enthusiast, and audio hobbyist.  I make no claim to have the level of experience of some here and quite frankly at times I wonder if I really belong.  Not to say I don’t share the interests here, but the budget is something I will likely not have anytime soon. Kids in college and Veterinary school mean my dabbling is rather low end and I wonder if I had $5000 to spend on hardware if I would really be able to enjoy the difference in sound quality or if I would constantly be nagged by the cost.   I tend to be quite pragmatic.  Some of you may remember a review in which I ran a set of Fiio earbuds through the laundry to see if they would survive.   I intend to review the X5 with a similar pragmatic approach (albeit I’ll spare them the laundromat).
 
 
Review Proper:
The X5 arrived in a typical manila padded envelope and made the journey intact.   I will give partial credit to the USPS and partial to Mixcder for a good solid box and the carry case inside it that provided extra rigidity.
 

 
 

    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accessories:
               In a word, impressive.   Again, considering the asking price, the accessory package is better than most.  The carrying case is  very functional and durable.  Two sets of earhooks are not usually included at this price point nor is a clip to keep the cable in place while jogging. The downfall if there was one was the eartips.  It came with s,m,l tips and one set of double flanged tips.  It would have been a nice touch to include either a set of foam tips or the double flanged in all three sizes like the other set of  tips.

 
Build Quality:            
               Build quality was solid throughout.  The case was well made and feels durable, the earphones themselves are very solid being made of aluminum.  The cable is reminiscent of the **** DT cable or the upgrade cable for the KZ ZST or Z3 and was well made.   Strain reliefs are a bit shorter than most but seem solidly made. 
 
Microphone:
                 The microphone worked well for making calls and didn’t pick up a lot of extraneous noise.  It did suffer from the same issues with wind and rubbing on clothing as you walk that pretty much all in-line microphones do.  My personal preference is for cables without the microphone but I’m sure others will find it useful.
 
Sound:  
                I am a lover of blues, blues/rock, classic rock, and anything with good guitar work in it.  For that reason, I chose the following as my test tracks. (artist, album, track, thoughts)
 
Stevie Ray Vaughan – Texas Flood – Lenny   (Guitar to die for but the thing I look for is the percussion.)
 
Lindsey Buckingham – Fleetwood Mac, Best of  - Go Insane, Live   (Probably the most complicated simple song you’ll ever hear, all about nuance and subtleties with this track).
 
Johny Lang – Lie to me – Lie to Me  (Looking for tight bass, bleed over into the mids, and controlled sub-bass)
 
Tedeschi Trucks – Let me get by – I want more  (Female Vocals, backing brass band)
 
The Blasters -  Testament – Blue Shadows (Saxophone and piano with male vocals)
 
Vintage Trouble – The Bomb shelter sessions -  Blues hand me down  (Looking at attack speed and decay especially in bass and sub-bass.  This track gets muddy quick if the equipment can’t handle it.)
 
 
Bass:                     
Good bass impact and definitely emphasized overall with a moderate mid-bass hump.  Sub bass is present in good quantity and is reasonably controlled although it can get a bit loose at higher volumes. 
 
Mids:                   
Very good separation in the mids and very natural presentation of both electric and acoustic guitar.   One of the more believable headphones I have heard for reproducing Stevie Ray’s guitar.   Buckingham’s vocals on Go Insane are full and more detail than expected came through.
 
Treble:                
Somewhat rolled off but in a good way.  Treble is polite and well mannered.  The high-hat that I listen for and the snare in Lenny are very well defined and clear.   I went through some additional tracks with pronounced female vocals that usually get sibilant and couldn’t make these sibilant without introducing a lot of EQ.
 
 
 I want to say these have a V shape sound profile but they don’t.  What they have doesn’t match a letter of the alphabet.  If you imagine a letter that has the first half of a capital V and the second half of the lowercase v you have the profile these headphones exhibit.   They are definitely bass heavy and mildly rolled off at the top end.   Sound stage is crowded as one would expect from a closed in ear but instrument separation is better than expected with this small a soundstage.   Detail and even micro detail is more present than expected and easily better than anything I own in the sub $100 category.   If I had to summarize these in a word it would be “natural”.  Not neutral, but a very realistic reproduction of guitars and vocals.  The Bari sax and the Tenor share that same quality but alto sax suffers a bit from the rolled off top end and doesn’t sound as natural as those in the lower registers.   They make for a very non-fatiguing listening session and combined with the comfortable fit could be a good all-day earphone. 
 
 It should also be noted that not only do these not need amping, they are actually hurt by it.  When using the E17 alone or with the e09k noise was very obvious and distracting.  These are simply too sensitive for use with any amp I had available to test with.   This is by no means a strike against the X5 as they worked well when plugged directly into a phone or a DAP (I did play a few songs on a Xduoo X10 just to see how they’d do) and this is exactly the segment of the market they are targeting.  Most people won’t use a sport headphone with a high-power amp.
 
Comparisons:
 
With an asking price of <$20 on Amazon, the X5 falls squarely in the class of “Device replacements”.  To me this class is generally divided into two sub-categories.  The first is “I broke what came with my device” and the second is “What came with my device utterly sucks, I gotta get something better”.
 
I decided to use those two categories as the basis for comparison.  I drove all the headphones with an HTC m9, and I-phone 6s, and a laptop using a Fiio E17/E09k combination as these seem like very likely use cases for the X5.
 
In category 1, I compared the X5 to the headphones that came with a Sony Discman, two generations of apple buds that came with I-Phone 4 and 6s, and the earphones that came with my HTC M9.
 

 
I-phone 4S -    The earbuds that came with the 4s fall in the “These suck” category as they lack anything that even resembles bass so it was really no contest.  The X5 has a much better sound profile than the 4s.
 
I-phone 6S -    Although a clear improvement over the buds that came with the 4s the 6s buds still lack bottom end and suffer from bleed over into the mids.  Again, the X5 is a clear improvement in sound quality.
 
Discman -    The discman were better than I remembered and bested the I-phone buds but still lacked the bass impact of the X5 and didn’t show any sub-bass at all.   The X5 was an easy winner in that the bass and isolation were markedly better.
 
HTC -     Isolation was about equal with the X5 but sound profile is very different.  The HTC needs heavy EQ to be listenable and is very fatiguing without that adjustment.   Winner – X5.   Even with adjustments I couldn’t make the HTC sound as natural as the X5.
 
At less than $25 US, they are a no-brainer as a replacement for the headphones that come with most consumer devices.
 
In category 2, compared the X5 with other would be improvements in the <$35 range.  In this class I had several KZs (ATE, ED9, ZST), a Fiio EM3, **** DT, and the Monoprice 9927 snails.
 

 
Fiio EM3  - while the EM3 is a good bud in the same price range, it lacks the isolation and thus the bass of the X5.  I think for those who prefer the earbud style the EM3 or VE Monk are going to be tough to beat.  For those who want more bass and better isolation the X5 gets the nod.  (Not really a good comparison as too much difference in designs).
 
**** DT   -  the **** suffers from the same issue the HTC did.  It can sound really good, but not without heavy EQ and even then, it suffers from bass bleed into the mids.  The X5 was more natural, less fatiguing and easily the winner when tested without EQ.
 
Monoprice 9927 - Here we have the first close call.  The 9927 needs no introduction as the $7 wonder but its shortfalls are also equally well known.  The x5 is an easy fit for everyone in my family and several of the people in the house find the 9927 uncomfortable.   Ultimately though it was the very audible 3KHz resonance of the 9927 that gave the win to the X5.  
 
KZ ATE  -    This is probably the headphone in the KZ line that most closely approximates the sound profile of the X5.  It has a pleasant V shaped profile, isn’t particularly sibilant, and doesn’t suffer the fit issues of the 9927.   What it couldn’t do was be as clear as the X5.  The ATE suffers from bleed over and a very pronounced mid-bass hump (more so than the X5).  I found on Lie to Me and Blues Hand me down the details were much better on the X5 than on the ATE.  The ATE tended to get muddy on Blues hand me down as it is a very busy track and heavily slanted toward bass and mid-bass.
 
KZ ED9  -   I normally use the neutral nozzles but to mimic the X5, I replaced them with the bass heavy versions.  In that configuration, the ED9 comes very close to the X5.   So much so that when listening to the same tracks repeatedly I was having trouble remembering which earphone I was using for each pass.   On sound alone, this is a dead tie.   The X5 takes the win based on construction as I have had two pairs of the ED9s break due to poor QC and a bad strain relief design.    
 
 
KZ ZST -  This was my toughest call no doubt.  I really wanted to do both justice and have listened to the ZST a lot as my evening walk companion and the ZST has been the earphone I carry with my phone nearly daily for some time.   For that reason, I gave the X5 a solid 3 days of listening at the office, during my evening walks with the dogs, and general listening.   After nearly a  week, I’m still not sure there is a clear winner in all circumstances.
 
          Construction:  Winner – X5.  Even though the ZST comes with removable cables, its plastic construction and the stock cable are no match for the X5 in materials quality.
 
          Bass:      Winner ZST.    Although the X5 was a bit cleaner, it had considerably less bass and sub-bass than the ZST.  If you are a basshead, the ZST is going to put a smile on your face.  If you prefer more balance – probably not so much.
 
          Treble – Winner X5.  The rolled off, polite treble of the X5 stands in pretty stark contrast to the sibilant, poor behaved treble of the ZST (unless EQ’d).  If listening for long periods, the X5 is much more pleasant and less fatiguing.
  
           Mids -  Winner X5, the ZST suffers from bass that bleeds into the mids on some tracks and the upper mids are recessed.  The X5 was cleaner and less recessed.
 
 
OVERALL:
The Mixcder X5 is an easy recommendation.  When considering the retail price, that becomes an even stronger recommendation.  They are easily better than anything that typically comes packaged with consumer devices and have better sound quality than many models costing twice as much or more.    I was pleasantly surprised by how natural sounding the guitars were and the level of detail the X5 presents.    I appreciate the chance to try out the X5 and I can promise Mixcder that they won’t end up in the drawer.  These make a good earphone for my evening walks and will probably continue in that role until one of the kids discovers them and they disappear (an all too frequent event around here).
 
 
 
 

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Not long ago 20 bucks wouldn't get you far in the world of portable audio. Mediocre build quality, few accessories, and most importantly, terrible sound were the standard. You got what you paid for; not much.
 
Today's landscape in the world of portable audio is a vastly different place. Instead of wading through a sea of waste and settling on the best of the worst, we are spoiled with quality options that would have been unthinkable just a short time ago; sub-20 dollar hybrids with removable cable, dual-dynamic drivers, impeccably built metal housings, cables and cases that feel like they sucked up the entire cost of the item you bought, custom-styled housings, and more. With a number of worthy purchases cropping up seemingly every week, it's getting more and more challenging to sort the champs from the chumps.
 
Today's earphone, the Mixcder X5, takes aims and shoots for the top echelon of budget earphones. Let's check them out together, shall we?
 
Disclaimer:
 
I would like to thank Denise at Mixcder for sending over a complimentary copy of the X5 for the purposes of this review. I am not receiving any financial compensation for these writings. The thoughts within do not represent Mixcder or any other entity, and are simply my thoughts and observations of the X5 after spending a week and many hours listening to them. Speaking of a week, this is less time than I prefer to spend reviewing a headphone. Should my thoughts and feelings change in the future as I continue to use and compare the X5 with other similarly priced earphones, I will be sure to update and adjust the review accordingly.
 
You can check out the X5 here on Mixcder.com; https://www.mixcder.com/mixcderr-x5-wired-eaphone.html
 

 
 

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Packaging and Accessories:
 
Mixcder's ShareMe series of Bluetooth headphones always had the environment in mind with the design and construction of their packaging, This environmentally conscientious philosophy carries over to the X5. The compact cardboard packaging, 4 5/8" x 2 3/4" x 1 3/4", is adorned with an eye-pleasingly retro design with a sky-blue and white color scheme that reminds me of something you would have found in the late 60s, early 70s.
 
Opening the package you're greeted by an elongated hard clam-shell carrying case that's a bit smaller than the one included on the ANC-G5, but still plenty spacious. A miniature carabiner is attached to a fabric loop on one end. The instruction manual is slotted in behind the case and outlines everything you would expect; mic controls, 1 year warranty info, etc. Inside the case you find a plethora of accessories.
 
- cable clip
- single flange silicone tips (s/l, medium pre-installed)
- one pair of dual-flange tips
- two pairs of stabilizing ear hooks (s/l)
 
The quality of the ear tips and ear hooks are quite good and while I did swap out the tips for something else, the included sets feel durable and seal well. For most I suspect there won't be any need to replace them.
 
Overall the unboxing experience is very basic, but the included accessories are of good quality. The ear hooks are a nice bonus and quite welcome.
 

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Design, Build, Comfort, and Isolation:
 
I've been quite impressed with Mixcder's designs and build quality for the most part. The ShareMe 5 and Pro looked and felt nice in the hand with excellent ergonomics, with the same being said for their ANC-G5 noise canceling in-ear. The X5 carries on the tradition and is pretty impressive for a product in this sub-20 USD category.
 
The aluminum alloy housings are light and durable with good fit and finish, though the seams where the bottom face plate facing your ears could be more flush with the rest of the housing. The silver ring cut into the back can also be a bit sharp, but you have to really press your finger into it to notice; not something you would be doing in normal use.
 
The cable is outstanding with a flexible, noise, and memory resistant PU (polyurethane) sheath covering the wires twisted within. The inclusion of a chin cinch is nice, though it's hard to slide along the cable as resistance is a touch high. I was very pleased to see that the cable retains the same gauge throughout the entire length instead of thinning above the y-split leading towards the housings. Strain relief is quite effective overall, but could be a touch longer at the y-split and in-line mic. This would improve it's effectiveness in two areas that are often failure points.
 
I found the X5 exceptionally comfortable given the broad stature forced upon them by their large ~12.5 mm drivers. I was expecting them to be a shallow fit earphone due to the shape and past experience with the ANC-G5, but nope. They've got a fairly long nozzle stem at 7 mm which will help ensure an easy and consistent fit for most. The nozzle itself is 5 mm wide which means the X5 is compatible with a wide variety of aftermarket tips; handy if you lose the stock pairs or enjoy trying out different tips to maximize comfort and/or performance. Comply users will be happy to know that 400 series tips are nice and snug and in my experience, don't affect the sound much beyond softening up the treble a touch. One thing to note is that the in-line control module is placed quite far up the cable putting it behind your ear if you choose to wear the X5 cable up. Not ideal.
 
The X5 is vented in two locations and as expected, the resulting isolation properties are pretty average. Not unexpected from a dynamic driver based earphone. They are fine for dulling the sounds of keyboards clacking in the background, voices, city noises, etc, but won't be isolating you completely from your surroundings.
 
Overall the X5 is well-designed, put together with precision using quality materials, has comfort in the bag, and isolates decently well. No concerns here, except possibly the placement of the remote which makes cable up wear far from ideal.
 

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Mic/Remote Performance:
 
The X5's mic is excellent giving viewers a pretty accurate image of your voice without much background noise seeping in. You come across clear and detailed, though I found vocals a touch thick. Still, it was good enough to use while recording audio for a couple videos, and is one of the better in-line mics I've come across. This is a great mic for phone calls.
 
The single button remote works as expected, able to answer and end calls, start/stop and skip through music tracks, etc. The button depresses with an appealing tactile 'snap' that ensures there is no question about whether or not you pressed it.
 
Overall the inline controls and mic work pretty much flawlessly. It would be nice if it were a three button unit, but not necessary.
 
Sound:
 
Mixcder dialed in a fun, warm-ish, v-shaped signature with the X5. They've got some thunk in the trunk and good extension up top, thankfully without sacrificing mid-range clarity and presence. It's the sort of sound that wows upon first listen, yet remains entertaining even once you've become accustomed to their presentation.
 
The X5's treble is a touch on the dry side which takes the impact out of sparkly or shimmering effects. It's also a bit grainy on anything but the cleanest of recordings. Detail retrieval and clarity are above average for a budget single dynamic, having no issues picking out and separating nuanced details in recordings.
 
These positive qualities continue through to the X5's midrange which despite being slightly recessed is very crisp, though still with a touch of graininess. Ts and Ss occasionally lack definition and come across a bit harsh. I think that's less the earphone and more the recording given it is inconsistent track to track. Separation is excellent, allowing vocals to stand out and play within their own distinct space. The X5's presentation seems to favor male vocals and live instruments making listening to recordings from groups such as Jethro Tull, King Crimson, Soil, and others an absolute joy.
 
The X5's low end isn't lacking either, able to put out some solid rumble when asked. I truly appreciate that Mixcder didn't dial in a huge mid-bass hump, giving it's solid sub-bass extension equal billing. It's also pretty quick with slightly faster than natural decay. Some extra linger on heavy bass hits would be welcome, made up for with a very textured and punchy sound.
 
A large and accurate soundstage isn't in the cards, but I also never found the X5 claustrophobic. Sound has a very defined space to play within, with clear layering and imaging qualities and a noise free background. They do have a somewhat odd quality, however. As sound moves away from you, it always seems to shift down and back, petering out behind me at the further edge of my collarbone. As a result the X5's soundstage comes across as an inverted v (^) in shape.
 
Overall the X5 is an entertaining and capable sounding earphone that would really benefit from a more natural soundstage presentation.
 

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Earphone stand provided courtesy of ​

AuralLife​

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Select Comparisons:
 
SoundPEATS B10 (11.99 USD): The B10 shares a v-shaped signature with the X5, but is warmer and smoother with more of a mid-bass hump that at times can be a bit invasive. The B10's treble extension seems to flatten out earlier than on the X5 making it less fatiguing. Mid-range and treble clarity and detail are about on par, with the X5's bass bringing a more dynamic and punchy presentation to the table.
 
Build and material quality on the X5 is leaps and bounds beyond what the B10 offers which is more in line with mainstream budget offerings like the Panasonic HJE-120. Comfort goes to the B10 as it weighs next to nothing and is notably smaller and more compact. I also prefer the included tips which are very similar to those that come with numerous JVC earphones.
 
FiiO F1 (14.99 USD): No question, I find the X5 a much better listen than the F1. Clarity and detail across the board is more impressive on Mixcder's offering with the benefit of improved extension at either end. The F1 sounds quite veiled in direct comparison but benefits from a more natural soundstage presentation and prominent mid-range.
 
Build quality on the earpieces goes to the X5. Fit and finish is slightly better and the choice to go with aluminum gives them a more premium feel. As much as I like the style of cable selected for the X5, the F1's amazing cable and control module would be quite at home on a much more expensive product. The F1 is slightly more comfortable.
 
Vodabang VD01 (15.99 USD): The X5 and VD01 are a solid sonic match. They are tonally quite similar with nearly the same tuning balance. The VD01 is the stronger performer in my opinion as they have a larger soundstage without the odd stage qualities of the X5, along with a more airy, tighter, and more sparkly treble presentation.
 
Build quality once again goes to the X5, without question. Except at the poorly constructed y-split which is two pieces of cheap feeling plastic glued together, the VD01 feels perfectly fine for the price. But, set it beside the X5 though and the cable comes across slightly rubbery and bouncy, microphonics are much more present, and strain relief is mediocre except at the excellent 90 degree angle jack. I definitely prefer the VD01's design though as it very clearly takes inspiration from the Audio Technica CKW100ANV, one of the most organic and beautiful earphones out there in my opinion.
 
Mixcder ANC-G5 (59.99 USD): The ANC-G5 is brings great sound to a reasonably inexpensive and effective noise canceling earphone. The X5 certainly shares some basic traits with the G5, but I don't think the G5 has anything to worry about. A) because they don't even remotely compete with each other when looking at price, features, etc. but also B) because the G5 offers up superior sonic performance, and not by a small margin.
 
It's much smoother and more refined with a cleaner treble presentation, tighter, punchier bass, and a similarly prominent but more refined mid-range. It's soundstage is also notably more spacious and open, completely dwarfing the X5. The X5 simply sounds less refined when A/Bing the two. Given the significant price gap between them, I'd expect improved performance from the G5 and thankfully it doesn't disappoint.
 
Once again, build goes to the X5. The all-metal housings are more cleanly constructed than the G5's plastic/aluminum combo. The G5's cloth cable is also subject to fraying, but both are similarly well-relieved. I personally prefer the G5's built-in adjustable earhooks but they can't be removed unlike the silicone add-ons for the X5. If you find the hooks on the G5 uncomfortable, you're stuck with them.
 

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Final Thoughts:
 
Five years from now I can see the X5 being referenced in a "What should I buy next?" help thread by someone who has been using it as their daily driver for the last five years, finally looking for a replacement. While only time will tell, I'm given the impression it is a product that will provide buyers many years of enjoyment before it eventually succumbs to the rigors of regular use.
 
It seems to do a lot right and very little wrong making it well worth your time if in the market for a good sounding, well-built earphone that's not going to break the bank. They're made from durable materials that are backed with good build quality. The cable, often a point of concern for budget products, is not only tough and durable in itself, but is properly relieved which will only extend it's life further. The included accessories are all made from nice materials and perfectly functional. Nothing feels cheap (except maybe the cable clip) or like it was tossed in for the sake of increasing perceived value.
 
I do wish the X5 was a little smoother and more refined in the treble regions and to fit in better with my personal preferences, a touch warmer in the mid-range. Keeping in mind this is a sub-20 USD earphone, these are VERY minor concerns as their performance overall is above what many products at this price provide. Overall Mixcder has done a wonderful job with the X5.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler
 
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
Test Tracks:
 
Aesop Rock - Saturn Missles
BT - The Antikythera Mechanism
The Crystal Method - Grace (feat. LeAnn Rimes)
Daft Punk - Touch
Gramatik - Bluestep (Album Version)
Incubus - 2nd/3rd/4th Movements of the Odyssey
Infected Mushroom - Deeply Disturbed
Infected Mushroom - The Legend of the Black Shawarma
Jessie J - Bang Bang
Kiesza - Hideaway
King Crimson - Starless and Bible Black
Pink Floyd - Money
Run The Jewels - Oh My Darling (Don't Cry)
Skindred - Death to all Spies
Supertramp - Rudy
The Prodigy - Get Your Fight On
Witcher 2 Official Soundtrack

 
 
 
 
 
 
The X5 In-Ear Wired Sport Earphone is a product that is designed to be compatible with an active lifestyle, and is also satisfactory for anyone looking for a fun sounding bass forward earphone.
 
Since this is an earphone that is primarily designed to be used on the go, and the price point suggests it's intended market is the average consumer, I used these headphones in the manner of what a non-hardcore audiophile would. Plugged directly into an iPhone (no additional amp), listening to Apple iTunes m4a files, 320 kbps mp3 files, and Spotify as a streaming service.
 
 
The X5 are made with an aluminum alloy body which makes the earphones both durable and lightweight. The Y splitter and jack are made of the same material. The overall design is somewhat industrial looking due to the materials used and the diamond style etching on the Y splitter and jack. 
 
The design elements come across as basic with a touch of class. Maybe a bit too basic. The cylindrical design of the earphones themselves, while giving a somewhat pleasing appearance, tends to make the body of the earphones a bit too bulky and big. I would have liked these to be a bit smaller. 
 
Branding is done with class as well with just the Mixcder logo on the back of the microphone control box. No over the top branding, which I like.
 
I would have preferred an L shaped jack instead of a straight one.
 
Overall, I find the build quality to be superb for the price. No issues here. Cables seem strong, and are about as thick as one can go before becoming too bulky and heavy. The rubber strain relief on the jack and earphones seems sufficient. The microphone control box seems sturdy and the function button feels durable, is easy to locate/feel, and has a satisfying "click" when pressed.
 
 
This is where the unmatched value of the whole X5 package starts to come into play. Mixcder provides a generous amount of accessories with the X5.The accessories are well made and are of a higher quality than one would expect given the price.
 
There is 3 pairs of single flanged ear tips included in sizes small, medium (X5 is shipped with the medium installed), and large. There is also a single pair of bi-flanged tips included as well. The medium sized single flange tips is what I decided to stick with even though I found the bi-flange pair to be the most comfortable. I found the bi-flange tips changed the sound signature subduing the bass slightly. I prefer the more pronounced bass that the single flange tips provide.
 
2 pairs of sport ear hooks are included as well. Sized small and large. They are made of a thick soft rubber. Size small worked perfectly for me. This is my first time actually trying ear hooks and it took me a little while to figure out what angle I need to have them on the earphones so when I put them in my ears the strain relief was facing straight down and the hooks would be right where I needed them to be. They were comfortable, and did the job of keeping the earphones in place in my ears.
 
The included zipper case is made of what I think is neoprene, a very durable material. What I really like about this case is that it has a mesh pocket inside to store the other accessories in. The zipper itself has a nice sized handle. No fumbling around to find that. The case also has a carabiner installed.
 
Lastly, there is a plastic shirt clip with a swiveling hook that you can attach to the cable to make sure the cable stays in place and is out of your way. This is the only piece of the package where I think durability may be a concern, but it's made well enough for what it is.
 
 
The X5 are a very efficient earphone, and sound great plugged directly into my phone. The loudest I ever needed them to be is maybe two clicks past 50% volume on an iPhone. They are sealed very well, don't leak much sound, and are good at blocking out external noise.
 
Bass is powerful, punchy, and warms up the sound considerably. I can feel the X5 rumble in my ears. Good extension to the bass. I found the bass to be very musical. No one note bass thumps. I get a sense of detail in the bass and can distinguish different layers within the tones. The bass is my favorite aspect of the sound.
 
Midrange is forward as well, and gives the sound a sense of clarity that I wasn't expecting. Usually headphones in this league tend to have the mids scooped much more. Not the case here. I'm not altogether pleased with the midrange, although. I find the midrange to be just a tad harsh, a little muddled, and cold sounding. This somewhat clashes with the warmth of the bass. It makes the overall sound signature slightly odd, because the sound can be both warm and cold at the same time. It's not a deal breaker, which should be obvious by my ratings. Just something I notice. I am midrange sensitive and therefore prefer a warmer midrange.
 
The highs are present and clear, but a bit subdued. I would have liked more sparkle in this area.
 
Sound separation is good. I can clearly identify the different instruments, vocals, and tones.
 
Soundstage is average. Not too narrow. Not wide.
 
Call quality is good. No issues with hearing the conversation. No issues being heard.
 
Despite some criticism when it comes to the sound I am still very pleased with the sound over all. The X5 is musical, fun, and provides more clarity than I was expecting at this price point. Throughout the years I have tried quite a few IEM's in this league and the sound of the X5 is much more satisfying than any other earphone I have listened to in this price range.
 
 
Mixcder put together a great package at a bargain price. Definitely unmatched value as far as I'm concerned. Taking into consideration the included accessories, build quality, sound that punches above it's weight, and a price that can't be beat, I recommend this earphone wholeheartedly.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Notes:
I used these earbuds mainly on the bus during my commute and will later use them while working out to see how they hold up. 
I mostly listened to movie soundtracks and hip hop music while either on the Surface 3 Pro (Windows 10) or on the OnePlus 3 device (Android 7.0). 

Accessories and Design:
I believe the Mixcder X5 exceeds expectations in this area. The product comes with a sturdy looking case and a carabiner. This is very nice to carry the earbuds around while keeping the safe,
Additionally, there are three different sizes of ear tips, two sizes of ear hooks, and a small clip. 
The combination of the ear hooks and earbud design keeps the earbuds in my ear. I don't have much trouble with the earbuds falling out of my ear.
The only problem I had was that  the earbuds felt slightly bulky in my ear, but I assume my ears are smaller than average. 
The earbuds feel sturdy and the wires seem durable. However, for me, the wires are a little too thin and round which resulted in some minor tangle issues. 
Overall, the earbuds felt really light and I could easily wear them for extended hours without feeling extra weight. 

Sound:
I will be comparing the Mixcder X5 with the Skullcandy Ink'd 2 Wired earbuds since both are similar in pricing and claim to have quality sound. 
The first thing I noticed was that these earbuds seem to block out exterior noises. If a person is  having a regular conservation, I can barely hear them and closer sounds are muffled. 
I'm not an avid music listener, but after listening to some songs, I find that the lows, mids, and highs are relatively neutral.
The vocals are distinct and the overall sound is very comfortable to listen to.
There does not seem to be any static or breaks throughout the listening experience. 

Summary: 
Overall, the Mixcder X5 Wired are a fantastic pair of inexpensive, quality-sounding earbuds.
If you prefer earbuds that block out most outside noises, this is great.
For what you get in the box and the build quality of earbuds, these are much better than earbuds with similar pricing. 

Introduction

 
It has been a while since I published a review on Head-fi. For the last few years, I’ve been occupied writing reviews for higher end IEMs for another website. Nevertheless, I was recently approached by a representative from Mixcder, asking me to join a group of reviewers reviewing their new low-end IEM, the X5. While I’ve moved on to higher end IEMs, I nevertheless take joy in owning a handful of lower-end IEMs as they are easily replaceable. For instance, I would never carry my CIEMs on me on a rainy day or when I’m working out, and this is where lower end, aka “beater”, IEMs come in. However, even for “beater” IEMs, I believe that audio quality should be held to a certain standard. After all, we are all audiophiles.
 
Before I start the review, I will openly and clearly state that the X5 was provided to me free of charge for review purposes and that I do not have any personal/business relations to Mixcder. On the other hand, I also warn the readers to take my review with a grain of salt as I merely spent a week with the X5. I generally prefer to have at least two weeks of use before I publish a review, but Mixcder requested that I write a review within a week or so.
 

[size=20.007px][size=20.007px][/size][/size]

 

Review

 
The X5 arrives in a simple white/blue box, somewhat reminiscent of Amazon’s frustration free packaging. The box opens easily, and the contents of the box, while not displayed pompously, are organized and packed well. The X5 ships with a sturdy hard shell case, a cable clip, four pairs of ear tips (including a pair of double flange), and two pairs of ear guides.
 
The case, which comes with a nifty small carabineer, can easily be attached to your backpack if you wish to do so. Frankly, I tend to shove my IEMs in my blazer pocket, so the case isn’t much use to me on a daily basis, but X5’s cases are, without a doubt, one of the more sturdy and roomy cases I’ve seen. The cable clip can be used to reduce touch noise or pulling, as the cables are on the stiffer side. However, since the IEMs themselves tend to fit rather well, I found the touch noise to be manageable even without the cable clip.
 
The silicon tips included are fairly standard, although the blue termination at the bore end is a chic color choice. The included tips should fit most users, and if you find the medium sized tips to fit well, you should also give the double flanged tips a shot. Generally speaking, I find double flanged tips to isolate a tad bit more than single flanged tips. The ear guides, on the other hand, are one of the major selling points of the X5, in my opinion. Simply put, these ear guides work. They anchor the IEMs into your concha, as do CIEMs. In fact, I find the X5 with the ear guides to stay in my ears almost as well as my CIEMs do. Sure, a strong tug on the cables will dislodge the IEMs from your ears, but the X5 should stay in your ears even through your hardest workouts. This sturdy insertion also allows for a solid seal, providing decent isolation for a dynamic IEM. I estimate around 16dB of isolation (as a reference, Etys isolate up to 32dB and most BA IEMs isolate around 20-26dB).
 
The IEMs also come attached with mic/remote combo found in many other IEMs. The remote functions perfectly on the Galaxy S7, and the buttons are clicky (whether this is a pro or a con would depend on the user preference). The mic was used multiple times in phone/skype calls, and no major issues were found. The X5 provides satisfying calling quality (although the mics were not as exceptional as that of Focal Sphears).
 
On the other hand, the X5, while seemingly made for a smartphone, has an extremely low SPL of 83dB. Thankfully, the low(16ohm) resistance counteracts this, making the X5 driveable from a regular smartphone. The X5 also doesn’t seem to be impacted by high output impedance, given that OI is within a reasonable range(0-20ohm).
 
In terms of sound, the X5 presents a forward, bass heavy sound.
 
The lower end of the spectrum is boosted heavily; I suspect about 15dB with diffuse field compensation. That being said, the X5 has enough bass to satisfy most bass heads, except the most hardcore ones. Sub bass seems to extend as deep as my test tracks called for, and mid bass punches were powerful and satisfying. Decay is on the longer side, and the speed wasn’t as impressive as that of BA IEMs, yet, the X5 provides a satisfying, echoing bass.
 
I was initially a little worried about the transition from bass to mids, as strong bass tends to bleed into the mids, making the vocals/guitars sound muffled. Generally speaking, I found no significant bass bleeds, although the bleeding was noticeable on certain bass heavy tracks(Daft Punk’s Doin’ it Right, for instance). However, with a forward signature, the X5 also presents rich mids. Vocals are never recessed and are generally fun to listen to. However, if you speak from an audio absolutist point of view (disregarding the price), the X5’s mids are noticeably colored and grainy. Such coloration and grains are to be expected, and I found other IEMs in the similar price range (Soundmagics and Xiaomis, for instance), to have similar issues as well.
 
While transitioning from mids to treble, I picked up a peak. Peaks are very common amongst IEMs(or any audio receiver really), so it wasn’t a surprise I picked one up. From the short time I’ve spent listening to the X5, I concluded that the peak was on the narrower side, although fairly tall. This, in other words, means that there is a small range of lower-treble frequency that will be significantly boosted, and hence will be shrill or sharp. I found this to be of no particular concern in most tracks, although the X5 really suffered on few tracks (Rolling Stone’s Rocks Off and Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now, for instance). Upper treble seems to be decently extended, which is just enough for a $17 IEM.
 
Overall clarity is decent, and details are ample. Keep in mind that this comparison is only valid for IEMs in similar price range. Overall sound is colored, although tastefully so. When I first heard the X5, I was reminded of (once mine) Sony XBA-Z5. The X5 has a similar forwardness to the sound as the Z5. If you enjoy a forward and engaging signature, you’ll find the X5 to suit you quite well. However, if you’re looking for a neutral or wide sounding IEM, the X5 might not be your cup of tea. Besides the peak, the only other issue I had with the X5 was the sound stage. Sound stage is small, especially for a dynamic IEM. Stereo separation is present, but the forwardness of the IEMs don’t allow for much breathing room, something I believe is necessary for a wide sound stage.
 
 

Conclusion

 
While I forced myself to listen to the technical aspect of the IEM for review/analysis purposes, I plan on ditched the objective side of the analysis to close this review.
 
Whenever manufacturers ask me to review a product (especially lower end products), I always beg them to not bother sending the IEMs to me if they can't stand behind the sound quality, as it is really awkward to publish a bad review. Thankfully, I really do enjoy the X5. The X5, priced at $16.99, is cheap, sturdy, and fun. What more could you ask for in a lower end IEM? The X5 is, technically speaking, pretty good. But who cares about the technical capability of a $17 sports IEM? All of my IEMs in my current collection (except my “beater” collection) easily triumphs the X5 in terms of technicality, and most of the readers, I suspect, will own a higher end IEM. What matters is that the X5 is packed with forwardness that makes music exciting and joyful.
 

References

The following gears were used alongside with and as references for the review:
Samsung Galaxy S7
Astell & Kern Jr.
Ultimate Ears Reference Monitors
Focal Sphears
Sennheiser HD800
Xiaomi Pistons 3
SoundMagic PL30
LG Quadbeats 2
 

X5 Review

Introduction

 
The X5 is a very interesting set of headphones. Consider its price point I started to look for flaws, but I cannot find any. I am doing A/B testing between the X5 and my Klipsch X11i. The Klipsch is better as I A/B test against known tracks for sure. But honestly I am just nitpicking at that point comparing it to a pair of headphone costing 10 times more.
 

Physical Design

 
All the solid parts of the X5 is build with some sort of light aluminum alloy, according to the product description. The material does feel very premium. Picking up the headphones, you will inevitably hear and see the earbuds clinked together with a satisfactory metal sound. I particularly like the metal feel of the mic and control unit. The single button click positively.
 
The X5 comes with four total pairs of eartips. The plastic on the ear feel well made, soft and not too thin like other cheap brands. Mixcder also includes two pair of ear wings, but did not feel like I need them. The standard medium sized eartips fit me fine. While the earbuds are metal, it is not heavy and the earbuds stay on fine for me.
 
The cable on the X5 is coated with a shiny textured materials. This is perhaps the only thing that I do not like about the X5. Initially it gives off some chemical smell.
 
Finally the X5 comes with a basic oblong shaped carrying case. While the case is basic, I am glad that it is not the usual small circular case. The case is large enough to fit the X5 comfortably. I do not have to wind the cable up too tightly for it to fit.
 

Controls

 
The single button control means that you have to use click patterns to navigate. Single click toggles between pause and click. Double click moves to the next track. Triple click moves to the previous track. When plugged into my Mac or my iPhone 7, long press brings up Siri. The lack of volume up and down buttons on the control is perhaps my only complain with the X5. Since the typical use for the X5 will be mobile, having to reach for the volume on the phone each time seems like extra work.
 

Sound Quality

 
I tested the X5 with my Retina Macbook Pro, and with my iPhone 7. I needed to use my lightning port adaptor with the iPhone 7. I uses my Klipsch X11i as a comparison during the listening tests:
 
Trust, Christina Perri 2014: This tracks has a repetitive strumming of guitars playing against Perri’s raw vocal. While the bass is not over powering, the X5 has to work to keep the vocals clear, which it does. I can hear the nuance of her voice coming through.
 
A Thousand Year, Sting, 2000: A classic String song, kicking off with rumbling bass. The X5 reproduce them with ease. I was surprised how well the bass is on the X5. Perhaps it is the 12mm size driver. 
 
Private Investigation, Dire Straits 1982: Moody vocals and multiple layers of bass, drums and more make this a great track for testing. The X5 renders the signature section where the marimba, the acoustic guitar and everything else build up and eventually faded away very well.
 
I find the X5 very enjoyable. It is bassy without over kill. The highs are clear, slightly hash compare with the Klipsch. Soundstage is good. The X5 is more efficient than the Klipsch as well, making it a nice pair of IEM for use directly with a mobile phone.
 
I used the X5 in a conference call running through my Macbook Pro and the other participants tell me that I sounded great. Since for me the earbuds fit my ear very well, the passive sound isolation is also very good.
 

Conclusion

 
I am very happy with the X5. The quality is an improvement over other mixcder headphones, notably the ANC-G5. The sound signature is fun. Sound quality is good. I like the premium feel of it. As a pair of affordably price IEM it is good. For the actual price point of $17 it is a great. Right now this will be my go to recommendation for sub $20 wired IEM.
 
Disclaimer: I was provided a free review unit for review. Opinions expressed here are completely my own.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
I been  using  the Mixcder X5 for almost an day pairing it up with my LG Leon Smart phone, Which does a very good job with the X5's. When you open the box, inside you will see the carry case, which is small, It has a loop on the end which allows you to place it on your keys or belt, While still fitting inside of your pocket. Inside of it you will find different sizes of ear hooks and ear-tips including one that goes deeper into your ears. The case in my hands felt good enough to keep your IEMs safe while not in use, doesn’t feel like it will smash down or any thing if you put weight on it.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
The cable is not remove-able but that isn't a deal breaker, But I feel that would had been useful to have to swap from the default smartphone cable to something else. Control box located on the right side is where the button for the mute/answer call and change song is. I did not have any issues with pressing the button know, But I do think it should be in a better place, such as being further down on the cable. Speaking of the cable, I fell it should be a bit more thicker, You don't want to be tough with the cable too much, what i do like is that it's not in the way when you are wearing the earphones, unlike another pair of IEMs which I do own that does. The built in mic worked very well, people didn’t have any issues hearing when I spoke thru it.
 
The X5 are a nice size and the default ear-tip that was on them already, Fit nice in my ears while staying inside, tips was comfortable, I didn’t even feel any pressure from them in my ears. The cable was not heavy either, It was like I wasn’t wearing them. I haven’t tried the ear hooks due to never being able to get them on my ears regardless of which IEM’s I’m using. The sound isolation is good, while it isn’t total isolation, its enough to block out most of the noises, but my mechanical keyboard still makes it thru, but to be fair those keyboards can be very loud.
 
Now the sound signature, as I mention before, my LG leon smartphone will be used as the source, So your results may be different then mind. The music player that I will be using on my phone is VLC player connected to my music server.
 
 
Stephen Walking – Shark City
 
This is one of my favorite songs that I tend to use in my reviews, which is good since if something is off, I will notice it right away. The first thing you notice with this song on the X5’s is that the highs are not dirty at all and can be heard clearly, the highs are also detailed, not too much, but just enough. There only a hint of brightness from what I can hear but it’s not enough to make my ears uncomfortable.
 
So you are able to hear the tribal drums being hit and all of it tones including the piano and the hit hats, Which is not thin sounding at all. It has enough force behind it, while not having too much, if that makes sense.
 
The bass is just right, which means it’s accurate and not out of control, also doesn’t add any thing to the song that is not there. But in this song it does have a little of an impact but nothing that causes it to be the main focus point of the song.
 
Every instrument is separated from each other which means the instruments are not stepping on each other toes and you can hear each one, instead of blurring into each other.
 
Over all sound really great with this song, the sound is outside of my head and not in.
 
 
Aku – the Final Blow
 
Similar to the shark city with the way it sound, the only difference is the bass and the drums are neutral, but still have some details to them as you can hear them very clear and their notes, including the piano and strings, nothing is thin sounding. The humming of the voices are projected from the center of you as if the person is in front of you. Over all every thing sound neutral while still having good separation.
 
 
Space Laces – Say it ain’t So
 
The first thing you notice is the synth, its very detailed maybe a bit too much then the bass which, hits hard with a bit of an impact, but at the same time it’s not muddy at all and does not take over the song. The hit hats even through they are hit softy, you can still hear them including the snares. Also have good separation like the other songs as nothing is hidden behind instrument’s or bleeding into the other freq.
 
SubOxyde – Artillery Shells (Oolacile remix)
 
As soon I hit play I was greeted by a good size sound stage, which I wasn’t expecting. The different sound effects are space out around the channel, You could close your eyes and pick out their location. Really good panning in this song, as you can hear the FX move around in the channel including the machine sounds. The bass hit harder in this song then the last one, still isn’t muddy. The hit hat’s and the snare are very detailed but you can easy hear them in this song.
 
Summary
 
Over all I found the X5 to work with a wide range of other songs that I tried such as Dub-step, While there was some songs that I found the highs to be a bit too detailed, others I found it to very good, Some songs did good with the sound stage and imaging others did not.
 
There was no static, distortion or any clipping issues at all, when I was playing music thru them, every thing worked very nice. While it was detailed, the highs at times was too detailed. Which causes some of the songs to not sound right.
 
EDIT 4/20/17: After burning them in and then giving them an listen, I notice the highs was brighter then before. Before it as thin sounding in the highs while being overly detailed. That what I notice so far, The rest of it have some small improvements here and there. I do have other IEM's one of them being Fiio F1 which isn't bright at all on my phone. It just isn't an good pairing with bright sources.

INTRODUCTION
Disclaimer: This review is based upon a sample unit provided to me by the manufacturer in exchange for my honest and unfiltered opinion. I am not being compensated in any way for writing this review. I would like to thank Mixcder for sending me this review unit.
ABOUT ME
I have used the Mixcder X5 with a Blu HD R1 Android smartphone running Marshmallow and on my Windows 10 PC through a JDS Labs The Element, listening to either Spotify Premium high-quality streaming or local FLAC. Other headphones I own or have used in the past include the Mee Audio P1 Pinnacle, Fostex TH-X00, V-Moda M-80, V-Moda LP2 Crossfade, Beyerdynamic DT-770 (250 ohm), KZ ATE, Mee Audio M6, Hifiman HE-400S, and (very briefly) Phillips Fidelio X2.
I listen mostly to heavy metal, hip hop, and electronic music, as well as movie and video game soundtracks. I value detail, clarity, and soundstage above other acoustic qualities.







PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES
The Mixcder X5 comes in a small oblong zippered carry case with 2 pairs of silicone earhooks for sport use and 4 pairs of silicone eartips (double-flange, large, medium, and small). The finish of the carry case is good and appears sturdily made. It also comes with a small carabiner. I have not had the opportunity to use the earhooks during exercise yet, but I will update this review after I do.



BUILD QUALITY / DESIGN
The driver housings are made of an aluminum-alloy. Finish is high quality. There is strain relief where the driver housing meets the cable, which is greatly appreciated as this my KZ ATE’s failed because of cable fraying at this point. The cable is opaque, smooth, and stiff, not rubbery. It tends not to tangle. My one quibble with the design is that the jack is straight and not L-shaped.


FIT / COMFORT / ISOLATION
The Mixcder X5 is designed to be worn cable down. The housing does not protrude into my ear on any side, and is comfortable to wear for long periods of time. The housing is compact enough that it does not protrude far past the ear. It is possible to sleep on one’s side wearing these comfortably. My right ear canal is slightly smaller than the left, so I often have to mix and match earbud tips to find a good seal. However, the included medium eartips fit well enough to use for this review. They are slightly bigger than I am used to, but isolation is above average.

MIC/ CALL QUALITY
On the phone calls I have made using this headset, call quality was good, and the person on the other end of the phone call had no difficulty hearing or understanding me.

SOUND QUALITY
The following observations were made using a combination of Tidal Hifi, local FLAC and 320 kbps Spotify Premium.

General:
The Mixcder X5 has a boosted low end (especially sub-bass), a linear if slightly recessed midrange, and a subdued treble region. The bass is not boomy or bloated, but is a controlled rumble. Sub-bass extension is excellent. I could pick out the bass guitar line in songs I had not been able to before. They approach basshead territory, and are excellent for electronic music. However, I think the best part of these headphones how amazing distorted electric guitars sound. Guitars are clear and crunchy. It was shockingly easy to follow riffs under vocals or guitar solos. Male vocals that are on the raspier side are often slightly recessed. Soundstage is average. Instrument separation is above average.

Specific impressions:
Desolation – Lamb of God (Groove Metal) The first song I listened to on these headphones. Guitar riffs are super clear and easy to follow. Thunderous low end. Vocals are slightly recessed.
Take This Life – In Flames (Melodic Death Metal)
I’ve never been able to hear the bass guitar in this song before listening with these. I can also pick out the riffs during the pre-chorus more clearly. The keyboard during the chorus is difficult to make out. Cymbals are clearer than on other metal tracks I’ve listened to so far. Vocals are slightly recessed.
Seeya – Deadmau5 (Progressive House)
The bass stomps on this track. Great impact on the kick drum sample. Female vocals don’t seem to be recessed the way harsh male vocals are. The cymbal samples are also easier to hear than on most of the metal I’ve listened to.
Free the Madness – Steve Aoki (Electro House)
Similar to the Deadmau5 track in terms of excellent bass impact. MGK’s vocals sound sibilant at times, which is weird given the generally recessed treble I’ve noticed so far. Good separation of the various synth lines. These headphones really shine on bass music.
Me Okay – Jeezy (Rap) The soundstage on a track like this with (relatively) sparse instrumentation is much less congested than on the metal and electronic tracks previously examined. The headphones appear to benefit from having breathing room. Kick drum sample is a little boomy. Vocals are very clear.


MEASUREMENTS

My measurements were conducted with a Dayton iMM-6 microphone using a vinyl tubing coupler and a calibrated USB sound interface at a resonance point between 7.5 and 8k. The measurements are presented with 1/24th smoothing and without compensation. Measurements above 10k are not reliable.

SELECTED COMPARISONS

X5 (green) vs Yersen FEN-2000 (blue)

Midrange is more recessed on the X5. X5 has slightly better sub-bass extension. FEN-2000 has more mid-bass and slam. Treble is rolled off on the X5 in comparison. FEN-2000 has better detail retrieval. X5 is much more comfortable, but does not isolate as well. X5 has a bigger soundstage and better separation. Dynamics are better on the FEN-2000. FEN-2000 is more efficient.

AMPLIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
The Mixcder X5 is reasonably efficient and is comfortably driven from a smartphone.
CONCLUSION
The Mixcder X5 is a well-made and musical IEM. I was very impressed with the build quality and the sound was surprisingly good even in genres I did not expect these headphones to play nice with. I recommend them for electronic music and metal.