Review : Simgot EM3 – The Other Guy

Sound performance

For this review I used a mix of DAPs and semi-portable DACs, all from FiiO to stay in the same price range. The Chord Mojo was just to confirm if what I hear is consistent or not.

 

I chose two players + one DAC : FiiO M6 / FiiO M9 / FiiO K3 and paired them to the Simgot EM3 in random order. Most files used were FLAC 16bit/44kHz streamed from Qobuz/Spotify or from the internal storage.

Overall signature

Another day, another hybrid IEM ! If they used to be the exception, they are now becoming the norm.

On the first try, the Simgot EM3 surprised me with a clear V-Shaped signature. Voices seemed very laid back with emphasis on lows an highs more than anything else. It sounds much more like the EN700 Bass than the EN700 Pro in my opinion, which is not bad by any means.

Once I switched from my phone to a real DAP, things got much more interesting. The soundstage widens and voices come alive, the EM3 needs proper amplification to reveal itself, much more than the previous IEMs I recently tried.

If not as quick as the iBasso IT01S, the dynamic driver excels at his job. Transients are fast and never will you end with deceptive wobbly bass, which is great. That said, some might find the EM3 a bit too bassy on some tracks, which I didn’t personally.

Voices are a bit recessed, Gregory Porter seemed distant as if a new row was added between me and the music. It gives mixed feelings as some tracks will sound terrific when you would not expect, and the opposite is also true. For example, Sway from Diana Krall didn’t sound that impressive, whereas Elder Island – I Fold You was simply brilliant.

No sibilance or harshness occurred during my testing. The V-shaped Simgot EM3 remains very balanced and while the sound stage might not be the most impressive but the layering is excellent. For a hybrid IEM, this is a pleasant surprise as no real caveat or holes impaired the frequency range, it’s really a matter of tuning.

Dynamics are excellent and dynamic drivers still outperform balanced armatures on this point.

Tonality

Highs : clean and non-harmful. A very good surprise, the Simgot EM3 can deliver high-pitched sounds without any distortion or sibilance. Brass are a pleasure to listen to and if the upper-mids are a bit emphasized, this is never an issue. Even on complex tracks, the IEM never left me overwhelmed and you can clearly feel the superiority of balanced drivers, compared to dynamic ones, on this frequency range.

A pleasant surprise, airy, precise and overall musical.

Good test-track: I Fold You – Elder Island

Mids : a bit too laid-back. Voices are not the forte of the EM3, presence is a bit weak and I definitely consider mids to be the weakest link on this IEM. Male voices are definitely too recessed, and even great recordings like Gregory Porter seem too distant. On contrary, female voices are unharmed and if you’re essentially listening to Diana Krall or Norah Jones, this won’t be an issue, at all.

Mixed feelings here, the EM3 won’t suit everyone or any genre.

Good test-track : Wide awake in a dream – Sun Rai

Lows : deep and deeper. As usual, dynamic drivers excel in this category. That said, the sound signature of the Simgot EM3 is a little more different than usual. If the IEM can go very deep and reach for impressive sub-bass, the low-mids feel much more recessed. A quick tour to your equalizer can improve it, but out of the box some might be unimpressed.

Apart from that, it’s all good !

Good test-track : Hydrogen – M.O.O.N

The review continues on Page Five, after the click HERE or by using the jump below.

3.6/5 - (5 votes)
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A nerdy guy with a passion for audio and gadgets, he likes to combine his DAC and his swiss knife. Even after more than 10 years of experience, Nanotechnos still collects all gear he gets, even his first MPMAN MP3 player. He likes spreadsheets, technical specs and all this amazing(ly boring) numbers. But most of all, he loves music: electro, classical, dubstep, Debussy : the daily playlist.

1 Comment

  • Reply March 20, 2019

    Manowar

    Aww the box looks like a sad face

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