EA1000 - It’s in the game
Shout out to @GooberBM for loaning me the EA1000. I have appreciated what Simgot is doing in the value space but unfortunately the EA500 just didn’t resonate with me in the same way it did for others. It was too bright with too little bass so even though it had great technicalities for the price it was never gonna work for me. Now the EA1000 has always intrigued me since it has more mid-bass and claims to be smoother and improve bass texture over the 500. All things I wanted. So did it do enough to win me over?
Yes, and no. I know, I know, so cliche. Overall I really like the EA1000 and think it’s a great IEM. While I don’t think it’s worth the money for someone who likes a tuning like I do (neutral bass boost) I think for people more leaning bright neutral it’s a steal. The driver is definitely something special and the texture and dynamics are off the charts. Add top tier DD timbre and its a winner. My biggest gripe it can get a bit too bright for me which is easy enough to fix with the tuning nozzles and that the bass needs a good 2db in the mid bass and 5 in the sub. For my library it just lacks too much bass at this time to compete with others in my collection.
Pros:
- Pure DD timbre
- Extremely dynamic
- Vocal clarity is top tier
- Super easy fit
Cons:
- Sub bass is pretty non-existent
- Can get sharp at times, better for lower register instruments and singers
- Mid bass is texture is top tier
Genres
- All the below impressions are with the black nozzle
Pop - 8/10
Standing Next to You (Remix) - Jung Kook & Usher
I use this track as a sibilance test and the EA1000 almost passed. Unfortunately, things would get a bit harsh at times. Other than that it’s overall pretty good. There is this interesting thing where the dynamics of the notes are to the point where the song feels bouncy. In contrast, other sets are less bouncy and more flowy where things move around stage more noticeably. This one feels like everything is bouncing kind of in place which is unique and I appreciate that.
Meet Me At Our Spot - Willow, Tyler Cole
This starts off great and ends even better. That deep bass line runs through the whole track and gives a subtle vibration that keeps you moving. Willow and Cole’s vocals tonally on point although it would be great to get a bit more detail out of them cause I know there is more to give there but honestly that’s nit-picking.
Hip Hop - 7/10
Inward Hill Park- 6LACK
This track focuses on mid bass kicks and boy to they deliver on the EA1000. They aren’t huge but they are big enough and to top it off they are incredibly textured and dynamic. Vocals on this set have been a knockout so it’s no surprise that this track would follow that same trend. 6LACK’s voice has such distinct texture that comes out fully. On top of that because its so dynamic it adds a new dimension to them.
Brush (Remix) - JID w/ Denzel Curry
There is not really much to say on this track. Clarity and vocal tonality are all aces but it’s all a bit lifeless to me without the constant drone vibrating the entire track. This is where technically proficient doesn’t equal enjoyment.
R&B - 8/10
On and On - Tyla
The lack of sub bass throws the balance off and this is a track that was already pushing the boundaries on the upper end. With that balance tilt there are parts where Tyla’s voice gets a bit sharp. While its bearable I know its the not the best rendition of this track I have heard. I kind of stopped mentioning timbre cause honestly that is on point for every track.
Needs - Tinashe
Same experience with “On and On” however less egregious since Tinashe’s voice isn’t as wispy as Tyla’s. The bass hits are bigger on this track though and you can hear them so not feeling them really is a let down, enjoyment wise.
Latin - 8/10
Monaco - Bad Bunny
DD timbre strikes again, this may be my favorite replay of Bad Bunny’s voice out of all the sets I heard. It has good weight and stays a bit lower without coming off veiled or recessed. Bass impact suffers quite a bit in this track and as such things come off much brighter overall than they should.
Dame Beso // Muévete - Kali Uchis
Horns and pianos come in right off the bat and the timbre is top tier DD. There is something about DD timbre that just sounds “correct” even if BAs may give a more clear and controlled sound. That trend follows into the vocals. Im surprised by the amount of clarity from this single DD. It’s definitely one of the better DDs I have heard in any price range. Bass has just enough impact to work from the drums but I could use a bit more bottom end to balance out everything.
House/EDM - 7/10
Doin’ it Right - Daft Punk, Panda Bear
I can’t really get into this song on the EA1000. I can sense a bit of the mid bass but it’s not much. Hitting xBass on the Gryphon improves the whole track because it really lets those infrequent bass hits land and resonate.. Everything else is very good. Nothing sharp or harsh which can sometimes happen with the hi hats in this song. The sense of space, while not huge, is broad enough which is one the major things that makes this track special to me.
Heaven Takes You Home - SHM
This one actually goes a little sharp for me. Constance’s voice goes just over the edge of shrill and that plus the crescendo washes sounds together a little more than I would like. On top of that the sense of space is not big enough to help spread out those sounds and give me that immersive feeling.
Country - 9/10
I remember Everything - Zach Bryan, Kacey Musgrave
Simple tracks work really really well on the EA1000. Here we have guitars, drums and two great singers… so yeah this one kinda kills. Bryan and Musgrave’s voices benefit greatly from that sweet sweet DD timbre. Neither of them really go high so there is no sharpness here and just a great sense of depth and warmth in their voices. Guitars sound tonally correct, with great bite and percussions have enough impact to be pronounced and enough attack to cut through the mix.
If It Hadn’t Been For Love - The Steeldrivers
I could ditto all the points in the song above so I won’t dive too deep into tonality, especially because this track I like to use for imaging and stage size. I would say stag is a bit small and stays relatively in front and on a single plane. Even with those constrictions you can easily separate all the instruments into their own spots on the stage (not just 3 blob). Imagining is quite good regardless of the price.