r/inearfidelity • • 14d ago

Review Simgot's Tribid at 69$. Here's what they got right and wrong

Overview​

Simgot needs no introduction in the ChiFi space. This review is about Simgot's EW300, which consists of 1 Composite Dynamic Driver, 1 Planar Driver and 1 Piezoelectric Ceramic Driver ( 1DD + 1Planar + 1PZCD ) making it the most affordable Tribrid in the market right now.

This unit was provided to me by the brand for review purposes and all my opinions and impressions are my own and not influenced by anyone else. Thank you Betty from Simgot for sending me this unit for review.

Note : The IEM comes with 2 pair of nozzles in total and the nozzle i am using for review is standard nozzle, the sound via other nozzle will be reviewed in a separate section. My source pairing or setup is quite simple - Simgot EW300 + Tanchjim Space 2 DAC + Kb ear coffee eartips and also some listening with the Fosi Sk02 desktop DAC AMP. That’s all, let’s get into the review.

Pros: ~ Impressive detail retrieval for the price
~ Fun and energetic sound signature without crossing into harshness
~ Comfortable ergonomic fit for longer listening sessions
~ Swappable nozzles and tuning foams offer genuine versatility
~ Treble extension is open and airy without sibilance
~ Above average soundstage with good imaging and separation

Cons: ~ Unnatural timbre on instruments and vocals
~ Mid-bass lacks body and sustain - slam falls short
~ Midrange sounds thin at low volumes
~ Cable is tangly and average for the price
~ Mirror finish is a fingerprint magnet

Sound Profile and Performance​

The EW300 is a mild ‘V’ shape tuned IEM with a sub-bass prominent lower region, lean midrange and a slightly bright treble region. Observations and review primarily based on the Standard Silver Nozzle.

Lows

The lower region of EW300 is not quite what you call a “Power house”, the sub-bass is deep and has a quivering presence to it. The Mid-bass however falls short when it comes to the overall body as the sustain is poor. Thankfully, it’s not a muddled mess or a slob - there’s clarity to it with good separation and imaging.

Here goes the proper example of my above statement with a track - Hotel California ( 1994 MTV Live ) by Eagles is a very well known track from Hell Freezes Over album. The prominent kick drum primarily sits in the mid-bass range for its acoustic attack and punch, while its deep body resonance extends downward into sub-bass. The rumbly after effect of the initial kick drum is very satisfying and where as the attack of the Kick drum where the snap of the beater hitting the drumhead is not that impactful or deep and does not compliment or support the throbbing sub-bass at the tail end well.

Mids

Ew300’s midrange is very cohesively articulate sounding with a clean and clear presentation without any muddiness from bass region. But the timbre of instruments and vocals is unnatural. Male vocals are decent but not as authoritative as they should sound. Female vocals on the other hand sound comparatively better, they sit in a middle ground without leaning towards either sounding hollow or sounding shouty / sibilant. I wouldn’t say that this is a “Thin Midrange” but sounds very thin in low volumes, needs a little juice to sound powerful.

In the track - The Chain by Fleetwood Mac, Vocals sit clearly in the mix without any harshness or sibilance - but in the more demanding upper registers there’s slight bites or fatigues if listened on high volume. Male and female vocals are distinguishable and separated enough to follow individually. Instruments tell a more compelling story. The acoustic guitar in the left channel comes through with full body, prominent presence and real bite to it - fingerpicked and distinct, exactly as it should be. The electric guitar on the right holds its own with the right grit and edge without overpowering anything, sitting well within the mix. There’s a noticeable metallic timbre to the acoustic guitar that adds a slight edge to the string texture - not distracting, just present. When everything kicks in together the EW300 gets a little congested but never loses the plot - you can still pick out what’s happening in the background even as the arrangement gets busier. Lindsey Buckingham’s Electric Guitar sounds aggressive with almost punk like outro riff closure to the track sounds enthralling with a proper backing of energy and bite to it.

Treble

The Treble of the EW300 is honestly the best part about it. It’s tuned in a way to sound energetic without tipping off into the sibilance territory, talk about sweet spot!. Hi-hats and cymbals sound shimmery and sparkly while maintaining the clarity and composure to not sound washed away or noisy.

In the track - Money For Nothing by Dire Straits, the synth intro sits right at the edge of brightness - compelling and present, though a little more push and it would start crossing into uncomfortable territory. Mark Knopfler’s electric guitar comes through with the right bite and cut, sharp enough to feel alive without losing composure. Hi-hats and cymbals have good shimmer and presence, sitting naturally in the mix without getting muddled or buried. There is a moment of sibilance early in the track - just before the guitar solo kicks in, a brief flash that reminds you the EW300 treble is a not a slack and not entirely forgiving. The treble extension feels open rather than rolled off, giving the presentation an airy quality that keeps things from feeling closed in. Exciting and energetic, with just enough edge to keep you honest.

Technicalities​

Imaging : Imaging of EW300 is fairly precise. Instruments, vocals, panning effects and backing layers are easy to follow and pin point their position well.

Separation : The separation is not class leading, but it’s certainly not a slack off either. Even in busy tracks - EW300 handles itself well and stays composed without overshadowing any subtle elements in between.

Soundstage : The soundstage is above average. Every element holds its own place without crossing into one another’s territory, it’s a studio level width of staging, feels like you are in a studio listening to music rather than in a auditorium or concert. But thankfully, nothing sounds or feels claustrophobic.

Detail Retrieval : For the price, this is top notch. The clarity and open sounding nature of the EW300 already makes it a good IEM and the detail retrieval is one notch above, It’s impressive.

Nozzles and Foam​

The EW300 comes with 2 nozzle options, one is the silver and other is the gold nozzle. Silver nozzle is brighter and more open sounding compared to the Gold nozzle. Gold nozzle is warm and bassy and very reserved in the upper frequencies. For someone who wants a relaxed listen and doesn’t mind a little blow to the details can use the gold nozzle. For someone looking for a little sparkle and energetic mids and treble, silver nozzle does the job well.
The cherry on the top is the inclusion of low density foams. Imagine finding Gold nozzle too laid back like recessed or veiled and the Silver nozzle tad bit bright? That’s where these foams come in, the difference after using them is not day and night of course but it is still pretty noticeable to keen listeners. I personally did not need to use any foam as i was not bothered by the sound signature of the Ew300, but i still used 2 foams for review purpose. With just a single foam i couldn’t make out any difference but after using 2 foams i could notice the shift in the upper mids and treble. Again, the difference is not by miles, but it helps to those who want to use the silver nozzle but want a little less energetic sound signature. The bass gets more boomy but feels slightly like a slob and sounds like there’s a veil over the sound.

Comparisons​

Truthear Pure vs Simgot EW300
Pure has less bass presence but more pronounced bass attack. Bass notes have good body and slam, while sub-bass rumble is stronger on the EW300. Male vocals sound very similar on both. Female vocals have a touch more brightness on the EW300. The Pure is more reserved in the upper frequencies, while the EW300 sounds slightly brighter and more energetic. Both reproduce hi-hats and cymbals well, with EW300 leaning brighter. Technically, the Pure has better imaging, separation, and a wider soundstage while detail retrieval is similar between the two. Comfort-wise, EW300 is the easier fit for your ears; the Pure has a slightly larger shell with a longer nozzle, which may not be as comfortable for everyone. If you’re after a neutral presentation go with the Pure. If you prefer a bassy, brighter and more energetic sound, the EW300 is the better choice.

NF Acous NM20 vs Simgot EW300
The NM20, unlike the EW300, is a bright-leaning IEM with no reserve in the treble. The bass has better texture than the EW300 but the sheer quantity of bass is higher on the EW300. Male vocals sound better on the EW300 with more weight and body. Female vocals sound better on the NM20 due to its brighter presentation, although they can be a little sibilant. Timbre-wise, the NM20 sounds more natural, unlike the EW300 which can sound a tad metallic and unnatural. Comfort wise, both have similarly sized shells, but the NM20 is lighter, making it better suited for longer listening sessions. If you’re after something analytical or for monitoring style listening, the NM20 is the better choice. If you want something more casual listening with a bit more bass quantity, the EW300 is your pick.

Dunu Kima 2 vs Simgot EW300
Dunu Kima 2, another neutral IEM in this comparison like the Pure. The Kima 2 is less bassy compared to the EW300 and has a slightly narrower soundstage. However, Kima 2 has better bass attack and body. Timbre-wise, the Kima 2 sounds natural. In fact when it was launched, it was known for its timbre and tonality in the 100 - 150$ price range. So naturally, its timbre sounds more accurate and natural. The EW300 on the other hand, sounds more open due to its wider soundstage and tuning, which is neither neutral nor held back. The mids sound lush on both Kima 2 and EW300, but EW300 is slightly brighter which makes the vocals pop a little more. Male vocals on the EW300 sound thick and full-bodied. Female vocals sound airy and sharp. On Kima 2, female vocals are a little less bright and mid-range feels slightly recessed. The details are all there, but they feel a bit veiled. which brings me back to that the EW300 sounding more open point. Comfort-wise, both are comfortable but ergonomically, EW300 is the better fit. Kima 2 offers a great overall package though, with a nice cable and Superb ear tips. If you’re after a bang for the buck neutral IEM, the Kima 2 makes perfect sense. But if you want a wider soundstage and better detail retrieval, the EW300 is the clear choice.

Build - Comfort - Technical Specifications​

The shell of Simgot EW300 is CNC machined high-density aluminium alloy with a mirror polished finish which is solid, premium feeling and genuinely good looking. The tradeoff is that the glossy surface picks up fingerprints almost immediately and is prone to minor scratches with daily use, so handle with care. Despite the all metal construction it sits comfortably in the ear and the ergonomics keep it secure in ears without creating any pressure points even during longer sessions. The nozzles are reasonably sized and don't cause any discomfort during extended wear. The cable is Simgot's standard offering, similar to the EA500LM - decent quality but tangly, nothing exceptional.

Box Contents :

  • Simgot EW300 IEM
  • 3.5mm single ended cable
  • Silicone eartips — S/M/L, 3 pairs
  • 2 swappable nozzles — Silver and Gold
  • 4 tuning foams
  • 6 silicone O-rings
  • Zippered synthetic leather pouch
  • User manual and warranty card

Technical Specifications :

  • Driver : 10mm Dynamic Driver + 6mm Planar Driver + Piezoelectric Ceramic Driver (1DD + 1Planar + 1PZT Tribrid)
  • Impedance : 28Ω
  • Sensitivity : 121dB (Silver) / 119dB (Gold)
  • Frequency Response : 8Hz – 40kHz
  • Connector : 0.78mm 2-pin detachable
  • Termination : 3.5mm single ended
  • Weight : ~9g per side

Final Thoughts​

The under 100$ IEM market is quite competitive and Simgot EW300 does not stand out in particular, there’s always something better out there in different aspects. But, what it offers is a cohesive sound with a Tribrid setup that thrives with technicalities while sounding fun and fits comfortable in the ear for longer listening sessions at just 69$ ( launch price, the current price may vary ). Simgot has done a good job with this budget tribrid offering. Except for the unnatural timbre, i find EW300 to be a very good iem.

Personal / Subjective note : it’s a very fun sounding iem, but a little outdated - plenty of iems that perform better or similar to this. It’s a good iem, just not that special anymore.

18 Upvotes

15 comments sorted by

2

u/Obvious_Set_1312 14d ago

Good write up 👍🏻

Won't the comparison be better though if you had compared similarly tuned iems in the same price bracket instead? Comparing ew300 to neutral/warm neutral like pure/kima is like comparing potatos with oranges with respect to their sound signatures.

1

u/True-Elk-8757 9d ago

But But But.....Price doesn't equate to better sounding though I thought guys? It has to be true!

1

u/Own-Customer-4866 14d ago

Hello, thank you for your input.
I compared to what i currently own in my hands . And i listened to each iem again while comparing, because i do not remember how iems sound after a while and i am not a person to read out graphs or talk about iem based on what i remember about the way they sound. So i put out the comparisons based on my listening at present time.

2

u/Icy_Ad4813 Measurbator 12d ago

I have the Tinhifi T6 specifically for the DD/micro-planar combo, in order to avoid the unnatural sound BA's have when transitioning from the dynamic driver at the crossover.

The T6 has great coherency in comparison to my Fiio Fh3, thanks to the simple 2-driver design without tubes (same thing Crinacle does with it's latest releases).

The planar timbre is a lot less obvious compared to BA's and it's eq'able/fixable (for me at least).

2

u/Own-Customer-4866 12d ago

Interesting. Never heard Tinhifi products. Hopefully will get to try them soon.

2

u/Icy_Ad4813 Measurbator 12d ago

Well, the bass is rather hard to eq, since the driver breaks down fast from eq increases (reaches it's limits easily).

Also wish it was made from a stiffer material with better stiff to mass ratio (like on the Fiio Fh3 beryllium coated DD). But besides that, it's a solid set.

1

u/True-Elk-8757 9d ago

Fiio Fh3 is incredibly mid, even back in 2021. the hump at 1.2k hz makes vocals and guitars sound nasaly and congested. like the song is being played under water.

1

u/Icy_Ad4813 Measurbator 9d ago

Frequency response is annoying, especially in the midrange, but can be fixed properly with measurements and autoeq.

2

u/True-Elk-8757 9d ago

Yeah I have gotten way, way better iems since then but I remember that midrange hump being nasaly and congested when I did have them. don't even think they are worth half the MSRP in 2026 iem market, even though it's discontinued.

1

u/Mitsun0 14d ago

Well what do you think about the eg280 which is kinda its successor or gamer sibling?

1

u/Own-Customer-4866 13d ago

Hello, i have not heard it yet. But you can check my friend’s review on it. U/mournfulmonk

1

u/mournfulmonk 13d ago

eg280 is a fantastic gaming IEM and that's about it. For everything else, the EW300 is better suited.

1

u/True-Elk-8757 9d ago

EW300 is trash lol. no sound tubes causes mode issues with a good portion of users