RikudouGoku's Database (IEMs/Earbuds/Headphones Ranking list)

[rattlingblanketwoman]

Hi Riku a couple of ereader-DAP questions!

Do you think this is a case of lazy copying and pasting? Because both models seem to have the DAC/AMP combo, in which case I’m lost as to what “hifi” features are missing from the lite:

Hisense Touch Lite E INK Music Player with Google Play

Hisense TOUCH HIFI Music Reader with Google Play

ALSO I found the Hisense A5, and I know it’s older but it does have expandable storage, and one is available on US eBay right now with a good offer sent to me. It has the ES9318. Besides being in some budget dongles do you know anything about the performance of that chip?

Many thanks!

EDIT: Hmm the Aune BU2 uses dual 9318 so it can’t be too shabby?

No warm light option on the A5 either

[Rikudou_Goku]

@rattlingblanketwoman

DAC/AMP combo, in which case I’m lost as to what “hifi” features are missing from the lite:

@rattlingblanketwoman

Do you think this is a case of lazy copying and pasting?

No the Touch Lite does not have any named dac/amp and yes does look like a copy and paste as the charging speed is also the same which is not the case (10w vs 18w). So difference between regular Touch and the lite are the named dac/amp missing, no front camera, slower charging speed and base model is only 64gb vs 128gb on the regular one. (although there is a also a 128gb version of the lite.)

Hisense Touch Lite is a (slightly) cheaper HiFi music player with an E Ink...

@rattlingblanketwoman

ALSO I found the Hisense A5, and I know it’s older but it does have expandable storage, and one is available on US eBay right now with a good offer sent to me. It has the ES9318. Besides being in some budget dongles do you know anything about the performance of that chip?

I did not look into the A5 that much since it has no warm light for its backlight. But if your use is more on the DAP side than the ereader one then it should be better than the touch since it has the sd card.

Aune BU2:

Topping D10s (ES9038Q2M)

The 9038 is supposed to be the successor/upgrade to the 9318 afaik. Which seems to be the case as it measures better in this example. But this is only good for reference as implementation will matter much more in getting those numbers.

I think if you dont read in the night, where warm backlight is almost crucial, I would go for the A5 instead as a more DAP focused device.

What is the price you found for it?

[rattlingblanketwoman]

About $145 before a potential counter offer, but that’s without $5 shipping and whatever tax (about $10 I’d expect). Currently I’d be passing on it tbh.

[Rikudou_Goku]

I paid 184 for the Touch (new) here:
https://aliexpress.com/item/1005005732546841.html

So that price for the A5 is not really a steal in comparison. But if DAP use is 100% the focus, it is automatically better assuming you need more than 100gb of storage for your local files.

The battery on the A5 also seems better being at 4000mah instead of 3000mah in the Touch.

[Rikudou_Goku]

Tangzu Fudu:

Non-sound: Cable is kinda meh, the surface on the wire is not as smooth as most cables but other than that it is fine and has working chin slider. Shell on the Fudu is very lightweight and does not feel too high quality as it feels quite hollow, it is relatively small and should fit most people.

	Tangzu Fudu	Shozy Form 1.1
Sub-bass	=	=
Mid-bass	-	+
Lower-mids	-	+
Upper-mids	-	+
Treble	-	+
Upper-treble	-	+
Soundstage	-	+
Imaging	-	+
Separation	=	=
Macro-detail	=	=
Micro-detail	+	-
Timbre	-	+

Fudu gets stomped pretty hard by the 4 year old Form 1.1 and the Form 1.1 is pretty much a direct upgrade over the Fudu. (disclaimer, my Fudu has pretty bad channel matching.)

Overall: Besides the high value tips that are included with the Fudu (Tang Sancai/Velvet) the Fudu itself does not really have much value in itself. If you already own one of the two tips (or both) I see no need for you to get the Fudu. But if you do not own those tips, your tips collection is small and you also do not have many iems, THEN I can see some value in the Fudu. Rank: B

[Rikudou_Goku]

Simgot EM6L & EA1000
EM6L:

Non-sound: Relatively small shell with a good shape that fits well and is very lightweight. There is no vent near the nozzle side of the iem and it does have some extremely slight pressure for me compared to the average single DD. Pretty decent 4-core cable with a working chin slider and weight is not too heavy nor very light.
Comparisons:

	Simgot EM6L	Tanchjim Oxygen
Sub-bass	-	+
Mid-bass	=	=
Lower-mids	+	-
Upper-mids	-	+
Treble	+	-
Upper-treble	-	+
Soundstage	-	+
Imaging	-	+
Separation	-	+
Macro-detail	-	+
Micro-detail	-	+
Timbre	-	+

The EM6L is warmer, smoother and more v-shaped in comparison to the Oxygen with the biggest difference being the more forward vocals on the Oxygen and an airier treble. Technicalities are better on the Oxygen although not a big jump. EM6L is the safer recommendation due to the smoother treble tuning, although it is still bright due to the gain as well as being a bit more versatile than the more vocal/treble specialist Oxygen.

	Simgot EM6L	Softears Volume (Y2 paper filter on BA bore)
Sub-bass	=	=
Mid-bass	=	=
Lower-mids	+	-
Upper-mids	-	+
Treble	+	-
Upper-treble	+	-
Soundstage	-	+
Imaging	-	+
Separation	-	+
Macro-detail	-	+
Micro-detail	-	+
Timbre	+	-

Bass is essentially identical on them except that the EM6L has a bit more quantity and with your perception on it being slightly different due to the difference in the mids/treble. Male vocals have a thicker note-weight and more warmth on the EM6L as well as being a bit more forward while female vocals are sharper and shoutier on the Volume but cleaner and a bit more forward. Treble wise they are both bright but the EM6L is much smoother and does not sound as aggressive as the Volume. Volume is a bit better than the EM6L in technicalities. Timbre and coherency on the EM6L are quite a bit better than the Volume as there is noticeable BA timbre in the Volume in comparison.

	Simgot EM6L	Simgot EA500 (red nozzle)
Sub-bass	-	+
Mid-bass	-	+
Lower-mids	-	+
Upper-mids	+	-
Treble	=	=
Upper-treble	-	+
Soundstage	-	+
Imaging	+	-
Separation	+	-
Macro-detail	+	-
Micro-detail	+	-
Timbre	-	+

Bass is quite a bit more textured on the EA500, rumbles a lot more in the sub-bass and more quantity overall but it is a bit tighter and faster on the EM6L. Male vocals are warmer and have a thicker note-weight and more forward on the EA500. Female vocals are a bit cleaner and more forward on the EM6L with better clarity. Treble is brighter on the EM6L due to having more gain but is smoother, although more dynamic range (due to less smoothness) and a bit airier (upper-treble) on the EA500. Soundstage is quite a bit bigger on the EA500 and has better timbre on it. But the rest of the technicalities are better on the EM6L.

EA1000:

Non-sound: The shell is pretty heavy with the size being average sized with a comfortable shape (slightly bigger than the EA500 but pretty much the same fit otherwise). Cable is a 2-core cable that is very similar to the EA500 except it is thicker and with a metal divider/chin-slider and 3.5mm connector.

Comparison: NOTE, the EA1000 in pure stock is too bright for me in stock and I have modded it slightly by putting 2 pieces of high-density foams (4x3mm size) in the nozzle to tame it. In stock form I do not recommend it over either of the EM6L/EA500.

	Simgot EA1000 (red nozzle + 2x high density foam 4x3mm)	Simgot EM6L
Sub-bass	+	-
Mid-bass	+	-
Lower-mids	+	-
Upper-mids	-	+
Treble	-	+
Upper-treble	-	+
Soundstage	+	-
Imaging	-	+
Separation	-	+
Macro-detail	=	=
Micro-detail	-	+
Timbre	=	=

Bass is a lot more textured on the EA1000 as well as more quantity and rumble, while it is tighter and faster on the EM6L. Male vocals are warmer and have a thicker note-weight on the EA1000 and more forward. Female vocals are quite similar but a bit more forward, cleaner and with more clarity on the EM6L. Treble is tuned better on the EM6L, with it having a lot more air and energy while being smoother and overall, more natural. Technicalities wise are a bit better on the EM6L except for the stage that is bigger on the EA1000. Overall the EM6L is the better female vocals/treble set while the EA1000 is the better bass/male vocals set with me preferring the EA1000 tonality more, although the EM6L does impress me more due to how well tuned it is and just how well implemented the BAs are in it for it to have such a good timbre and coherency.

	Simgot EA1000 (red nozzle + 2x high density foam 4x3mm)	Simgot EA500 (red nozzle)
Sub-bass	=	=
Mid-bass	+	-
Lower-mids	-	+
Upper-mids	=	=
Treble	-	+
Upper-treble	-	+
Soundstage	=	=
Imaging	=	=
Separation	=	=
Macro-detail	=	=
Micro-detail	-	+
Timbre	-	+

Very similar sub-bass but the mid-bass is a bit more textured and tighter on the EA1000. Male vocals are quite similar although a bit cleaner and more natural timbre on the EA500. Pretty much identical female vocals although the slightly better timbre on the EA500 makes it better overall. Treble on the EA1000 is not as airy as the EA500 and is a bit too dampened (with this mod) compared to the EA500 and lacks the clarity it has. Stage is a bit wider on the EA500 but a bit deeper on the EA1000, with the rest of the technicalities being on the same level as well. Timbre is a bit better on the EA500. Overall the EA500 is the better iem over even this modded version of the EA1000. Although if you want something smoother than the EA500 then this modded version will do just that but at the asking price of more than 2x the MSRP of the EA500 I do not recommend it.

	Simgot EA1000 (red nozzle + 2x high density foam 4x3mm)	Tanchjim Oxygen
Sub-bass	+	-
Mid-bass	+	-
Lower-mids	+	-
Upper-mids	-	+
Treble	-	+
Upper-treble	-	+
Soundstage	=	=
Imaging	-	+
Separation	-	+
Macro-detail	-	+
Micro-detail	-	+
Timbre	-	+

They are pretty different sets, the Oxygen Is brighter, thinner and much cleaner sounding than the more fun, bassy and warm EA1000. Besides the technicalities in which the Oxygen is better than the EA1000. I would only recommend the EA1000 if you want something warmer, bassier and smoother sounding (after mods) otherwise the Oxygen is the better iem.

Conclusion: The EM6L is a very well-tuned U-shaped set that is great for people that want something with more treble energy but safe enough due to the smoothness that it should work on more than just the treble-heads out there. Although if you prefer something more balanced overall the EA500 is the safer recommendation and I personally do prefer it over the EM6L.
EM6L rank: A+

The EA1000 on the other hand is not recommended at all unless you are willing to mod it because of it being much too bright in its stock configurations. After mods however, it does turn into a pretty decent iem with good bass texture, smoothness and warmth. But even still, it does not surpass the EA500 to me and that is why I cannot recommend it overall considering it is also over 2x the price of the EA500.
EA1000 modded rank: A
Stock rank: B+

[GooberBM]

I didn’t like FUDU and then when I found out BOTH BAs are in the nozzle, I was

[ZeusPro]

@Rikudou_Goku

The EA1000 on the other hand is not recommended at all unless you are willing to mod it because of it being much too bright in its stock configurations. After mods however, it does turn into a pretty decent iem with good bass texture, smoothness and warmth. But even still, it does not surpass the EA500 to me and that is why I cannot recommend it overall considering it is also over 2x the price of the EA500.

I have both EA1000 and EA500. Both with mods to take down upper mids and treble. It would be more fair to compare both IEMs with same mods matching treble and upper mids. I have done just that!

EA1000 has better instrument separation and layering, thicker note weight, more natural timber, and deeper stage. EA500 has slightly more metallic treble. Both IEMs are great, but on busy tracks, EA1000 wins, it has better driver.

[Rikudou_Goku]

@ZeusPro

It would be more fair to compare both IEMs with same mods matching treble and upper mids. I have done just that!

Right it is definitely a fair fight in the first place to compare a 80 usd vs 220 usd iem. And also mod the more expensive one to make up for its fundamental flaws it has right out of the gate, so you as a customer are both paying MORE for it AND you have to put in work to salvage it, totally fair.

[Steve_Mack]

The EA500 is in no way better than the EA1000.

[ZeusPro]

I think both are flawed in stock form. Both too bright. And a lot of Chinese IEMs are too bright and don’t have balanced tuning. I am willing to mod and experiment when I know it has potential to be great. Simgot made it very easy for customer to mod, by having removal nozzle and selling tuning kit. I don’t blame Simgot at all.

[Rikudou_Goku]

It is to me.

[ctjacks336]

[heartless]

@Rikudou_Goku

Conclusion

Very well written. A pleasure to read.

@Rikudou_Goku

NOTE, the EA1000 in pure stock is too bright for me in stock and I have modded it slightly by putting 2 pieces of high-density foams (4x3mm size) in the nozzle to tame it

Would you mind providing a little more detailed info on how did you do it?

High-density foam - would a piece of earbud foam be okay?

How to make it stay in place? Do you just stuff it inside the nozzle and hope for the best?

[blanche]

EA500 bros… we won

[ZeusPro]

I am one of the biggest fans of EA500. But, once you mod and spent time with EA1000, it will win you over. Once you hear a better driver, it is hard to go back

[blanche]

That’s cool. I’m too lazy to mod tho. With so many competent iems on the market now we can choose to be pickier with FR & vote with our wallets.

[Rikudou_Goku]

@heartless

High-density foam - would a piece of earbud foam be okay?

It is the 4x3mm high density option here:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004052500811.html

Remove the detachable red nozzle and then put the foams in it from the bottom that is open. They stay in place by friction.

[Kenyon]

@Rikudou_Goku - TUBES in a watch - for those on the go moments that need a warm glow
Hot wrist time

https://a.aliexpress.com/_ExXMVF3

[Rikudou_Goku]

oh damn, portable nixie clock essentially. Although I dont like wearing watches.

(been tempted by nixie clocks in the past, they look damn good.)