SIMGOT EA1000 FERMAT: Paradigm Shift

“I will share all of this with you whenever you wish.”

~~Pierre de Fermat, French mathematician and proponent of Fermat's Theorem. 

Pierre de Fermat was a mathematician and lawyer in 17th century France, he was the one who formulated a number theory called Fermat's Theorem and law of refraction on light rays named Fermat's Principle. His other contributions to the field of mathematics and physics are probability, expanding the application of Cartesian geometry and optical applications.

The SIMGOT revolution is still going strong up to the present on how it dictated last year's portable audio scene as it presents some of the best products that many audio enthusiasts are willing to accept. The EA500 is the testament that you will get an excellent set with good tonal and technical performance at entry-level pricing. And now what I have here is their latest offering at over $200/£160 segment.

This is SIMGOT EA1000 Fermat, it's a single dynamic driver with passive radiator as its supporting implementation. SIMGOT already did implement this configuration before on their EA2000 which is a midrange set. The EA1000 uses the latest generation of dual chambered, dual magnetic dynamic driver with newly-developed composite materials of its diaphragm made of SDPGDT (sputter deposition purple gold diaphragm technology) which is more rigid and better elasticity to deliver a more responsive and deeper bass response along with improved dynamic range and shimmering and crisper high frequencies. The 6mm passive radiator will enhance deeper pitch and darker tone due to better stimulation on resonance effect as it traps those sound pressures.

The drivers were in a solid aluminium alloy with a detachable tuning nozzle as SIMGOT offers three distinctive tuning. The surface of the cavity base shell of this set has a mirror finished surface while its faceplate was laminated with glass-like material to give that classy and elegant look. There are two vent holes in the cavity base part that allows it to escape some excessive air pressure generated from its high-performance dynamic driver. SIMGOT continues to use a proven interlocking mechanism on this set which is a standard 2-pin connector.

The stock cable of the SIMGOT EA1000 is of a high quality as it is a 2-core Litz OFC silver-plated copper that will assuredly deliver an unadulterated audio signal without any distortion and interference that will affect the sound quality. The termination plug is a gold-plated 3.5mm SE to ensure better conductivity and improvements of its corrosion resistance.

As for fitting and comfort, despite that this set shell chassis was made of solid metal alloy, it really rests well into my lugholes without any discomfort or wear fatigue. The passive noise isolation is excellent as it was able to block some noises from the outside due to good sealing.

The product presentation of SIMGOT EA1000 is quite impressive as it gives us some of the best unboxing experience and how the contents and accessories are well-organised inside.

Here are the following contents that were included inside the box:

• Pair of SIMGOT EA1000 Fermat
• Stock cable
• 3 pairs of vocal silicone ear tips in different standard sizes.
• 3 pairs of balanced silicone ear tips in different standard sizes.
• IEM storage case.
• extra 2 sets of tuning filter nozzles.
• Spare filter rings
• Paperwork like user's manual and warranty card.

Power scaling and amplification-wise, with an impedance rating of 16Ω and sensitivity of 124dB, SIMGOT EA1000 is indeed an easy to drive that even a smartphone or tablet with decent power output will be able to amplify it properly. With a decent power output, it utilises a full and dynamic sound that this set is capable of.

To determine its tonality, since it has a detachable tuning filters nozzle, it offers a variety of U-shaped sound profiles that usually aligns with Harman-style of tuning with some deviations.

(Graph was provided by baskingshark, credits to him)

Silver nozzle with red ring is more of a typical Harman target curve that we accustomed with, while the silver nozzle with black ring is SIMGOT's in-house tuning which is a based of a modified Harman target curve and then on golden copper nozzle with white ring is SIMGOT's latest in-house tuning that somehow rectifies some shortcomings of those tuning target curves to sound more balanced and engaging.

LOWS/BASS:

The bass response of this set is quite well balanced on both sub-bass and then mid-bass given my aversion and criticism in most Harman-style of tuning. While it has good sub-bass presence as I discerningly get its rumble and reverberations from instruments like low tone bass guitars, synthesisers and drum machines, the mid-bass is quite well-bodied on its texture as it delivers a slam, authority and punchy lows which might attribute due to the implementation of passive radiator to give a deeper and darker tone.

Bass guitars sound more sombre and resonant while bass kick drums have eerily and thudding sound, and then on male vocals, bass-baritones seems to projects a decently woolly and dusky vocals but still not deepest nor the darkest tone that I really want but for Harman-type bass response, this is quite satisfactory to my ears.

MIDRANGE:

The midrange presentation of the EA1000 are quite recessed in the overall frequency range but it has clean, transparent and energetic sound that will be more oriented towards female vocals, strings and woodwinds.

Male vocals particularly on baritones and heldentenors appears to sound a bit lean in my liking as it loses some volume and depth as they sound a bit too smooth, less warm and lack of richness. Tenors have bright and dazzling sound as it is more beneficial to leggero and lyric-type tenors. On females vocals, contraltos apparently has lack of texture and finesse as they sound less hefty and less husky sound while the mezzo-sopranos have tender, golden and fiery sound, and then on sopranos, they quite sound very expressive and captivating as they sound shimmering and crystalline.

In regards to how instruments sound with their respective timbre and tonality, strings such as guitars have a crisp and bright sound and violins have lively and vibrant sound. Woodwind instruments like piccolos, concert flutes and clarinets have a brilliant, silvery and lively sound respectively. On brasses, trumpets have brilliant and penetrating sound, horns have clear and metallic sound and trombones have sinister and dramatic sound. As for percussions, snares have sharp and precise sound, tom-toms have resonant but a tad less warm sounding, field drums have hard and majestic sound and kettledrums have resonant and a bit dry sound from it. Pianos have a balanced to tad brighter tone that makes them sound emotive and exciting.

HIGHS/TREBLE:

The treble response of this set is quite energetic and shimmering especially on silver coloured black ring nozzles and silver coloured red ring nozzles. The upper mids and presence part of the treble region are quite elevated on its overall tuning as it gives more definition on female vocals and sharper attacks of instruments. It is also noted that in some instances that some female vocals might sound a tad shrill and shouty but at least the sibilance was kept under control and harshness is barely minimal to none to be bothered with.

On crashing cymbals, it sounds bright and metallic while the hi-hats are a bit too bright with its distinctive buzzing and breathy timbre. Glockenspiels sound shimmering and brilliant, then on celestas, they have this particular “heavenly sound” as its sounds quite glistening and bright. It has a good sparkle and fairly airy treble response for a dynamic driver set with passive radiator.

SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

As for its technical aspects, it appears that the EA1000 has an above average sound/speaker proportions, as it has above-average lateral span, just a decent height and reasonable depth as it is just give me a moderate size headroom as I've experience a more cavernous soundstage from other sets.

The stereo imaging gives me a concave-like soundscape where I can locate precisely the positioning of instruments and vocals in well-separated and well-arranged layers of dynamic and frequency tones from each element. To my surprise, this set is quite capable of handling some of the most complex, multi-instrumental tracks that I'm throwing out on this one.

Coherency of its drivers is quite excellent as it managed to deliver a fast transient response without any distortion or out of phase issues as it performs consistently. Resolution capabilities of this one is fairly competent as it  has a good note texture on the macro-dynamics while it has sharp micro-detailing to extract some nuances and detail from an audio track.

PEER COMPARISONS:

ORIVETI OD200

● Probably one of the closest competitors in the market. While it only has a single dynamic driver, it was a beryllium-coated one and it has its own proprietary acoustic pressure technology to support its performance. Just like the EA1000, it has a detachable nozzle system and is also encased in a solid metal alloy chassis, although the OD200's stock cable is a modular one.

● As for tuning, since OD200 also has a detachable tuning nozzle just like EA1000, this set offers two types of tuning, a mild U-shaped sound and a warmer U/V-shaped. Bass quality and quantity on OD200 has more authority and impact but it has slight bleeding across the midrange (silver nozzle mode). Midrange is a tad more warmer and more textured on OD200 in silver nozzle mode that will be beneficial for male vocals, some percussives and mostly on brass section. The treble on both tuning modes on OD200 seems quite different but they all display a merely modest airy extension which makes the EA100P have more refined treble response.

● Technicality-wise, they are quite comparable but in certain cases, OD200 has a less refined separation and layering aspect, then its micro-dynamics seems to be less detailed but at least, OD200 has a bit more solid macro-dynamics.

DUNU FALCON ULTRA

● A solid offering from DUNU and like the EA1000, it also has a metal chassis and a detachable nozzle tuning system but the difference was that it has only a single dynamic driver and it has their own airflow damping system to improve its dynamics and punchier and solid low frequency. It also has modular cable and offers a lot of types of ear tips to choose from. And also, unlike EA1000, this one has a MMCX-type of connector which is either love or hate.

● Regarding its sound profiles, since this also has detachable tuning nozzles it offers two distinctive tuning, a warmer U-shaped and a bit brighter U-shaped sound signatures. Bass response appears to have a consistent texture and preciseness while a bit lean yet transparent midrange on the blue nozzle while the gold nozzle has some warmth on it and then on treble, blue nozzle filters seem to have more sparkle and shimmer while the gold nozzle appears to have a more smoother and balanced sounding.

● As for technicalities, it has an above average sound/speaker stage but if I compare it closely to EA1000, it has a bit more height. Stereo imaging presents an almost 3D-like presentation within my headroom and it has a good separation and layering. On the resolution aspect, while it has solid macro-dynamics, I noticed its micro-detailing definition seems less sharp.

TANCHJIM OXYGEN (Demo)

● This set is actually one of my most favourite single DD sets under $300 dollars. Like the EA1000, it has a solid metal shell chassis and uses a dual-chambered  dynamic driver with CNT diaphragm. But it doesn't have a detachable nozzle tuning filters

● Oxygen has a mild U-shaped sound signature as it has presence of its sub-bass while it is a punchy and articulate mid-bass but compared to EA1000, it will sound a bit less texture. Midrange is well-balanced with clean, energetic and good clarity to give more emotive and expressiveness on vocals and strings instruments. Treble has a good sheen on it with sufficient and has a good airy extension for a single DD set.

● Technicalities-wise, this is not the strongest aspect of the Oxygen as it has an average to above average sound/speaker stage and a more intimate stereo imaging. On separation and layering, if I compare it to EA1000, the Oxygen shows its age that it has less defined layering capability but still it has quite satisfactory capabilities on separation of instruments. On resolution capabilities, it has solid macro-dynamics and good detail retrieval but compared to EA1000, it has less sharper definition.

As I conclude my review about SIMGOT EA1000, This one truly reckons the current state of the IEM segment in under $300/£235 on how this set performs well. The performance of its high dynamic driver along with its well-implemented passive radiator truly defines the tonal and technical performance of this set that will probably change the dynamics of IEM game in the current portable audio market. If you want to experience a prelude to the Mid-Fi/midrange level of sound quality, this set is probably one of them.

The SIMGOT Revolution keeps going on and will continue to strengthen its grip in the IEM market.

SIMGOT EA1000 Fermat is currently available in SIMGOT official online store, LINSOUL and PENON. All links provided below are guaranteed non-affiliate ones.

■ OFFICIAL STORE

■ LINSOUL

■ PENON

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: SIMGOT EA1000 FERMAT

IMPEDANCE: 16Ω

SENSITIVITY: 126dB

FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 10Hz – 50KHz

CABLE LENGTH: 1.2m

PIN TYPE: 2-PIN CONNECTOR (0.78mm)

PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm

DRIVER UNIT(S): 1 DYNAMIC DRIVER + 1 PASSIVE RADIATOR

PROS:

● Solid aluminium alloy shell chassis with a glass-like surface on its faceplate.

● Detachable tuning nozzle filters for sonic preference choices.

● It offers an excellent fitting and passive noise isolation.

● Satisfactory amount of inclusions.

● Easy to amplify 

● A quite likeable tuning for a Harman-ish type of sound profile.

● Solid and precise yet clean bass response.

● Clean, transparent and energetic midrange.

● Excellent for tracking on female vocals, strings and woodwinds.

● Bright and adequately airy treble response.

● Remarkable separation and layering for a dynamic driver IEM with passive radiator.

● Exceptional resolution capability for a dynamic driver set.

CONS:

● Wishing for modular cable.

● Some male vocals sound a bit lean and less texture in my liking.

● Since this set has a mirror-finish surface on its shell chassis, constant wiping it off is a must.

●  A wider sound/speaker stage would be better.

● If you are tired of Harman tuning sets, this set isn't for you then as it still aligns with that particular target curve.

Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)

Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *

Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**

Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **

Mountain - Mississippi Queen *

Queen - Killer Queen **

Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*

Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'

Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'

Pearl Jam - Daughter **

Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *

Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*

Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *

New Order - Blue Monday *

The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *

Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *

The Madness- Buggy Trousers *

Metallica - Motorbreath **

Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *

Destiny's Child - Say My Name *

Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *

Mozart - Lacrimosa *

New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *

Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*

Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *

Exciter - Violence and Force *

Diana Krall - Stop This World **

Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*

The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**

Suzanne Vega – Luka **

Lauren Christy – Steep *

Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *

Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*

Type O Negative - Black No.1 *

Felix Ayo - Vivaldi: Presto **

Three Tenors - Nessum Dorma *

Mercyful Fate - Witches' Dance *

P.S.

I am not affiliated to SIMGOT nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.

Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to FIA LAM of SIMGOT and Obed Sanchez for letting me to join the SIMGOT review tour here in the Phillipines I truly appreciate their generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.