Simgot has been a well-known name in the in-ear monitor scene for years. Recently, the brand has expanded into the full-size headphone market with the EP5—a semi-closed back design featuring 50mm dynamic drivers.
The EP5 headphones can be used on their own or paired with the optional GH22 boom mic cable. There’s also the optional lightweight and compact GEW1 USB dongle/sound card, which supports headset cables with microphones, such as the GH22.
SIMGOT EP5 SPECIFICATIONS
- Driver Unit: 50mm dynamic with Neodymium N52 magnets
- Diaphragm: Multi-layer composite (Aluminum foil + PEK + PU)
- Impedance: 32 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 113dB/Vrms (@1kHz)
- Frequency Response: 15Hz – 50kHz
- Cable Material: Oxygen-Free Copper (OFC) wire core
- Cable length: Approx. 1.5m
- Cable connectors on headphones: Dual 3.5mm TRS
- Cable termination: 3.5mm TRS standard jack
- Weight: 300g (excluding cable)
- Included in the Box: Headphones, cable, manual
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
- GH22 Cable with boom mic on the left side, ca 2m long (+6 USD in bundle with the EP5 headphones)
- GEW1 Gaming Sound Card and GH22 mic cable (+23 USD in bundle with the EP5 headphones)
GEW1 SOUND CARD SPECS AND FUNCTIONS
The GEW1 is an ultra-light, all-plastic mini sound card/USB dongle measuring roughly 75×25×10mm. It features a 3.5mm 4-pole connector, a hardwired USB-C cable, a USB-A adapter plug, and built-in voice-pickup technology to reduce unwanted mic noise. Here are its functions:
- Volume wheel on the side regulates volume. It is not synced to the device digitally, it seems to be an analog volume adjustment.
- Plus and Minus buttons adjust microphone gain
- M-button cycles game modes: MOBA, FPS, and Live Gaming Enhancement.
- 7.1-button activates 7.1.channel surround simulation
- Slide button on the side mutes and un-mutes mic.
BUILD AND COMFORT
The EP5 headphones are very well built, featuring metal yokes and a dual-spring headband with an adjustable strap. They aren’t foldable, but unless ultra-compact travel is a priority, that’s a plus in my book—these headphones feel like some you can “throw around” and use without a second thought.
The detachable cable uses standard 3.5mm connectors on both the headphone cups and the amplifier end. There’s no option for a one-sided cable, but I actually prefer it this way—it’s straightforward, sturdy, and makes it easy to find third-party cables for replacements, different terminations, or varying lengths.
The pads are very comfortable protein leather filled with soft foam. They’re 95mm wide circular pads with standard lip mounting. A notch to assist with mounting would be helpful, but even without it, reinstalling them after removal was relatively quick and easy.
As they’re not fully closed-back, passive noise isolation isn’t great—but it’s far from nonexistent. In fact, it’s quite good. In many situations, having some awareness of your surroundings can actually be a benefit.
LISTENING IMPRESSIONS
Smile by Pearl Jam
Full-bodied and warm, yet detailed without being overly crisp or harsh. Sibilants remain pleasant.
Almost Like The Blues
Powerful bass, warm and lush vocals, nicely separated percussion—smooth and delicious overall.
Black Crow by Cassandra Wilson
I’ve heard this track sound more spacious, but it’s quite okay here. The bass is powerful but not boomy, the vocals are natural and lush, and the percussion is snappy without being crisp.
Some Day My Prince Will Come by Coryell et.al.
Very musical and pleasant presentation with a warm tonality that never gets mushy.
Bored by Deftones
Nice, full-sounding guitars; bass is rounded and strong without being boomy or overwhelming. Vocals stand out nicely.
Desert Island Disk by Radiohead
Warm and intimate presentation, with a soundstage that isn’t especially large or deep.
As Before by Olga Konkova
The cajón drum is punchy, the piano is crisp and clear, and the vocals are present and warm. The soundstage, however, is ok but not particularly impressive.
It Could Be Sweet by Portishead
The bass is punchy and full-bodied, with vocals that stand out and feel warm. Overall, the sound is smooth and laid-back.
Escape Route by Boris Blank
Full-bodied bass with a nice rumble, trumpets stand out nicely, and the percussion is fairly snappy. The soundstage isn’t especially impressive, but it’s intimate and totally fine.
Young Vivaldi RV 820 by Modo Antiquo
Nice timbre on the violin and strings, with good separation and texture.
Summer 3 Vivaldi Recomposed by Max Richter
Again, the separation between the various string instruments is good, and the timbre is quite nice with good texture.
WRAPPING IT UP
Sound Signature
The sound signature leans warm, with non-offensive highs, natural mids, and warm bass that doesn’t overpower the rest.
Treble
The treble is non-offensive and feels more organic than crisp.
Midrange
The midrange is slightly thick and lush yet remains natural, with a pleasantly refined tonality.
Bass
The bass is slightly elevated, likely just enough to suit most listeners, without becoming boomy or overpowering.
Soundstage and Imaging
Considering this is a 86 USD set of headphones, the soundstage is decent—though not expansive—and the imaging is quite acceptable for the price.
Detail, Dynamics, and Timbre
The overall detail and dynamics are good for the price, though neither is mind-blowingly impressive. What truly stands out is the tuning, tonality, and timbre—which, in my book, matter most.
COMPARISONS
Associated equipment:
- Amplifier: Topping A90
- DAC RME ADI-2 DAC FS
AUDIO TECHNICA ATH-M50X vs SIMGOT EP5
The ATH-M50X is a long-standing favorite in the sub-$150 range, priced notably higher than the EP5 at $149. It comes with more accessories, including three different cables and a 3.5mm to 6.35mm jack adapter.
In terms of build, the ATH-M50X is mostly plastic—quite different from the EP5. It’s larger but foldable, and uses a one-sided detachable locking 3.5mm jack cable.
Sound-wise, the ATH-M50X is generally brighter and crisper, with a metallic timbre that I personally find unappealing. It does offer a larger soundstage and slightly better imaging.
Personally, I’d pick the Simgot EP5 over the ATH-M50X, especially given the price difference.
- Amazon: ATH-M50x
FIIO FT1 vs SIMGOT EP5
The $149 FiiO FT1 made waves in the headphone market—it’s an insanely good value. I reviewed it here. It features a closed-back wooden design and uses dual-sided 3.5mm jacks on the cups, similar to the EP5, and you can use the same boom mic cables. In terms of build, the FT1 is significantly larger than the EP5. It’s not foldable, but ships with a soft-shell travel bag.
When it comes to sound, the FT1 is clearly a step up. No surprise, as it punches well above its price class. The improvement in audio quality more than justifies the higher price—but these aren’t the same kind of headphones. If compact ruggedness is your priority over absolute sound quality, the EP5 remains a solid choice.
SENNHEISERHD560S vs SIMGOT EP5
Stepping up a price tier, a popular option around the $200 mark is the Sennheiser HD560S.
In terms of build, it’s all plastic, but lightweight and solid enough. It’s not foldable, though still fairly compact. It features a single-sided locking cable, and third-party boom mic cables are available.
Sound-wise, the HD560S is a clear step up from the EP5, with greater resolution and a larger, more precise soundstage—helped in part by its fully open-back design, which naturally enhances openness. That level of improvement is expected at more than double the price. What’s interesting, though, is that the tonality is relatively similar—the HD560S feels like a more resolved, airier version of the EP5.
- Amazon: HD560S
CONCLUSION
The Simgot EP5 is a well-built, comfortable, and sturdy headphone with a pleasant, warm-leaning tuning. It enters a crowded market, but I’m quite impressed with its performance—especially the build quality. This is a solid-sounding, comfortable headphone that seems tough enough to handle rough use. While it doesn’t fold for stage purposes, it’s compact enough for most situations, and the ear cups are large enough for a comfortable listening experience.
Thanks for reading. You can support us by purchasing anything using any of our affiliate links.
- Linsoul: Simgot EP5
Any purchase you make on Amazon or Linsoul with any of our affiliate links will give us a small provision at no cost to you.
We only get a provision for items that are not returned, so there’s no incentive for us to recommend something that’s not good.
Linsoul : Headphones, Earbuds, Wireless Earbuds, Desktop DAC/AMP, Portable DAC/AMP, Digital Audio Players,
Amazon: Headphones, IEMs, Headphone Amplifiers, Home Audio or Anything else.
.
If you enjoyed this article or other content on The Headphoneer, you might consider leaving a small donation to keep this website up and running. No donation is too small. Thanks for supporting us!
If you like our work please follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter , it will help us grow. Sharing is caring 🙂
