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PureControl ANC App
Lypertek Z5 comes with a new app, named PureControl ANC. The app can be found both on Google Play Store and Apple Appstore. The app works seamlessly well with the new Z5 on my Android 11 smartphone. It instantly detects the Z5 and lets me control the earphone without any delay. The PureControl ANC application offer 7-band EQ, controls for ANC/Ambient modes, a touch controls configurator, a find my earbuds feature, and volume control. It is also possible to update the firmware of the earphones via the app. There is also an additional mode here called the ”LDX”. This mode provides a sound preset specifically designed for the PurePlay Z5 by Lypertek to increase its capabilities. We’ll talk more about it in the sound section. Lypertek’s support page can be reached through this link
Sound Signature
Lypertek PurePlay Z5 sounds balanced with a slight bass emphasis just like its bigger brother Z7. It has a very clean and controlled sound signature. Despite utilizing a single dynamic driver, it sounds close to the 3-driver Z7, showing how far Lypertek has gone in sound design. Technical capability is certainly impressive for this price tag, I could easily put the Z5 in the $250 USD league and wouldn’t even have second thoughts about the decision. Let’s dissect the sound into a few sections and take a closer look, together.
Low
The full-range dynamic driver performs excellent and manages to reproduce extended, impactful and agile. The PRaT is certainly impressive, especially for this price tag, I did not expect snappy and powerful bass from Z5 but it managed to impress me right away. The texture is nice also, it does not feel artificial and it has a good body thanks to the slightly elevated bass range. The single dynamic driver handles passages that feature multiple instruments on stage, quite well, thanks to the precise tuning.
Mid
The Z5 reproduces sweet, clean, and controlled mids. The note weight is on the thicker side of the spectrum, but it does not feel overwhelming at all, thanks to the spacious presentation. Tonality-wise the midrange can be labelled as slightly warm, with good detail retrieval and resolution. The instruments do not feel artificial at all, unlike many TWS in this price range. The upper midrange is controlled and well-tuned, offering plenty of details and air while staying under the sharpness threshold. You can listen to Mike Portnoy’s hi-hat abuse for 6 hours straight and still have functioning ears with the Z5. The instruments have realistic timbre and this is a big compliment for a TWS unit. The transparency and articulacy are impressive. Overall, the midrange is velvety smooth with excellent control and great resolution.
High
The Z5 certainly does not have a harsh treble reproduction. It reproduces the treble with good detail and extension without tapping into the harsh area. The resolution and detail level are quite good here as well, especially for this price range. The Z5 continues to impress me with its balanced, engaging, and well-tuned sound. The treble transparency is great and the extension is just right. It extends into the top octave without any sharp overtones. The sense of air originates from the upper mid and treble ranges. It contributes to the imaging capability of the earphones and helps it create a wider, deeper sense of stage. The treble shows good attack and decay as well, sounds clean and accentuated as it should.
Technical Performance
Just like the Z3 and the Z7, the Z5 sounds great and it is a technically capable earphone. Lypertek has a really good team of engineers and their expertise in tuning surprises me. The PRaT of the Z5 feels solid, the dynamic driver somehow manages to produce fast and full bass, while providing clean midrange and detailed treble. This is quite a feat for a TWS that costs little over the hundred dollar mark. The instrument separation is great, there is plenty of air between the instruments. The imaging is very good for the price as well. The Z5 has a medium-sized soundstage and the sense of width feels slightly better than the sense of depth.
Additionally, the LDX Audio mode that is available within the app has a slight effect on the sound signature of the Z5. It slightly increases the perceived resolution by increasing the upper mid energy and extension of the treble. It also slightly boosts the sub-bass and the signature feels slightly more dynamic compared to the normal mode. In my opinion, it works as an in-house developed EQ specifically for the Z5. I recommend trying it.
Comparisons
vs. Lypertek Z3 2.0 ($89 USD)
The Z3 2.0 is my daily driver and it sounds more linear compared to the Z5. The Z5’s note weight is thicker and instruments, especially those that are dependent on the midbass, feel lighter and slightly artificial on the Z3 2.0. The Z3 2.0 feels slightly more spacious and airy, due to the less bass quantity and recessed midbass. Both of the earphones perform well for their price tag, definitely punching above. The imaging and coherency are slightly better on the Z5 compared to the Z3 2.0. The Z5 feels more dynamic and vivid compared to the linear Z3.
vs. Lypertek Z7 ($199 USD)
The Lypertek Z7 is the top dog of the PurePlay lineup. It sounds detailed, clean, and balanced. The signature of the Z5 reminds me of Z7, however, there are a couple of differences between the two. The Z7’s technical capability is superior, it sounds slightly less colored, has much better PRaT and higher resolution. Additionally, Z7’s tonality feels slightly more neutral compared to the new Z5. The Z7 has a slightly better and more resolving treble. Another difference between Z7 and Z5 is the soundstage. The Z7 has a wider, deeper headroom and a better sense of air/space. The instruments are positioned further away from each other, resulting in a better sense of separation. If you’re on a budget or you want to have ANC, I’d definitely suggest you take a leap of faith with the Z5. I don’t think you’ll regret it.
vs. RHA Trueconnect 2 ($149 USD)
RHA’s signature is warmer and bolder than the Z5’s. The PurePlay Z5 has an airier signature with a cleaner tonality. It also has a better, wider, and deeper soundstage. The TC2‘s instrument positioning feels a bit cramped and it sounds congested during multiple instrumented passages. Technically, the Z5 feels more superior in terms of resolution, PRaT, and imaging. The Z5 is also cheaper and offers a better price-to-performance ratio in comparison.
Conclusion
Lypertek seems to have had yet another success. Z5 is a really good and capable earphone. I wish good luck to its competitors because they are going to need it. I have mentioned many aspects of it positively, but I would like to reiterate what I said negatively. First off, the battery life is less than I expected. The charging box could have had a better exterior design. Apart from these, another potential issue that comes to my mind is that the oval nozzle makes tip-rolling more difficult. Apart from these, I can’t find any other negative aspects of the product and I want to award the Z5 with HFN Recommendation. The Z5 has a well-functioning ANC, several useful modes, a good app, great sound quality, and a satisfactory fit and it is priced under the $150 USD mark.
The Z5 is now featured on our Recommended Buy list where it’s in good company.
Page 1: Lypertek, Lypertek PurePlay Z5, Packaging & Accessories, Design, Fit & Build Quality
Page 2: Stability, Controls, ANC & Call Quality, Battery Life
Page 3: PureControl ANC App, Sound Signature, Low, Mid, High, Technical Performance, Comparisons, Conclusion
