HeadphoneOverreview

Simgot EP5

A $95 first attempt that measures the same on two rigs — and still gets heard three ways.

18 sourcesUpdated
$95Typical US price

Score aggregates reviewer opinions across topics.

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Simgot EP5

The short version

What to know.

A light, warm, bass-tilted over-ear that two independent measurement rigs read almost identically: a roughly 5 dB bass shelf that holds flat to 20 Hz, strong ear-gain around 2.8 kHz, a dip at 4–5 kHz, a narrow peak near 6 kHz, and very little output above 9 kHz. Sources agree it is easy to drive, comfortable in the pads and unusually good at imaging for the money, and they agree the vented cups leak enough that it behaves more like a semi-open design than the closed-back Simgot advertises. They split on almost everything else: whether the mid-bass punches or blooms, whether the treble reads as smooth, dark or energetic, whether the stage opens up or stays ordinary, and whether the stiff headband sliders and non-swivelling cups spoil an otherwise comfortable fit.

About this product

Simgot's first over-ear headphone, on sale since April 2025: one 50 mm dynamic driver, 32 Ω, about 300 g, dual 3.5 mm TRS sockets. It is sold in three bundles that share the same headphone — on its own ($97.99 at Linsoul), with the GH22 boom-microphone cable ($104.99), or with the GH22 plus the GEW1 USB gaming sound card ($124.99). Everything below is about the headphone itself; the GEW1 dongle is a separate, cheaper-feeling accessory that reviewers treat as optional.

Simgot spent a decade building a reputation on single-dynamic in-ear monitors — the EA500, the EW300, the EA1000 — tuned tightly to published target curves. The EP5 is the first time the company has put that house philosophy into a full-size headphone, and it arrives at the awkward price where chi-fi over-ears fight hardest: under a hundred dollars, against the FiiO JT1, the HiFiMan HE400se and every used classic on the second-hand market.

It also arrives with an unusual pitch — half studio monitor, half gaming headset, with an optional boom-mic cable and USB sound card. Simgot says it is voiced to the Harman over-ear 2018 target and calls it closed-back. Both claims turn out to be arguable, and the argument is most of what makes this headphone interesting.

A good fit for

  • Listeners who want deep, generous sub-bass without a harsh top end
  • Gamers and streamers — the imaging is a strength, and the optional boom-mic cable turns it into a headset
  • Anyone driving headphones from a phone, laptop or cheap dongle
  • First-time buyers stepping up from earbuds who want a warm, forgiving sound for under $100

Think twice if

  • You want air, sparkle and a lit-up top octave — the response falls off a cliff above 9 kHz
  • You need real isolation on a commute or in an open office
  • Female vocals and upper-midrange presence are what you listen for
  • You want a precise, tight mid-bass slam rather than a warm low-end tilt
  • You share headphones with other people — the headband sliders are stiff and unmarked

The reviewer consensus

Agreement &
disagreement.

5 / 12topics divide opinion
imagingtonalitydetaildynamicsbuildisolationvaluebassmidstreblesoundstagecomfort
1 Strong agreement6 Mostly agree5 Divided opinions

Common ground6

  • Warm and bass-tilted rather than neutral — two independent rigs read the same roughly 5 dB bass shelf, flat down to 20 Hz
  • Very easy to drive: 32 Ω and high sensitivity, happy from a phone dongle, and owners report the character barely changes with better amping
  • Imaging and separation punch above the price, which is why gamers keep recommending it

Points of contention6

  • Mid-bass: fast and clean, or splashy and bloomy — the sub-bass is agreed, the punch above it is not
  • Treble: three readings of one curve — smooth and inoffensive, dark and airless, or genuinely energetic
  • Midrange: full and natural, or veiled by the warmth and thin on female voices

A closer listen.

12 topics · 5 divided
Left: criticalRight: positiveTighter lines: more agreement

Tonality

Leans positiveMostly agree
Reviewer sentiment11 supporting sources
CriticalNeutralPositive

Band: opinion spread · Dot: weighted average

Broadly agreed: warm, bass-forward and non-aggressive, in the neighbourhood of a Harman-style over-ear curve rather than exactly on it. Both measured curves show the same picture — a bass shelf about 5 dB above the mids, a dip near 200 Hz, and ear-gain of 8–9 dB at 2.8 kHz.

“The sound signature leans warm, with non-offensive highs, natural mids, and warm bass that doesn’t overpower the rest.”

Chris, The Headphoneer

“Its tuning is kind of close to the 10dB Tilt KEMAR DF (KB50XX) Target, having a neutral-ish, warm midrange, and smooth but not dark treble character, so the sound presentation is balanced, yet more musical than analytical.”

Jamsblast, Head-Fi showcase review (4/5)

Measured

Normalised to 500 Hz, GadgetryTech's KB006x measurement peaks at +6.1 dB at 85 Hz and holds +4.6 dB at 20 Hz, dips to -3.9 dB at 200 Hz, and rises to +9.0 dB at 2.76 kHz. Super* Review's rig reads +4.7 dB at 80 Hz, -4.5 dB at 200 Hz and +8.0 dB at 2.76 kHz — the same shape within about a decibel.

vs. listeners — Simgot's own listing claims a "neutral, transparent response" aligned to the H-2018 over-ear target. Both rigs put roughly 5 dB more energy below 100 Hz than at 500 Hz, and one Head-Fi reviewer argues the curve tracks the Harman in-ear target rather than the over-ear one — which is why almost every listener describes it as warm, not neutral.

Link to this topic

The hardware

Specifications.

Checked

Design

Type
Closed-back over-ear
Drivers
1 × 50 mm dynamic (aluminum foil + polymer composite diaphragm)

Electrical

Impedance
32 Ω
Sensitivity
113 dB/V≈ 98.1 dB/mW
Frequency response
15 Hz – 50 kHz

Connection

Cable
Detachable, dual-entry, 1.5 m
Connector
3.5 mm

Physical

Weight
300 g

Simgot also publishes a narrower 20 Hz–20 kHz 'effective' response inside that 15 Hz–50 kHz range. Manufacturer-published figures, not measurements · from linsoul.com.

Follow the evidence

Sources 18

1–6 of 18 sources

Read with context

Limitations & method.

As of

What to keep in mind 6

  1. A read of where the reviews land as of September 2026 — this is a young headphone from a maker new to full-size, and opinion on it is still settling.

  2. Big outlets have not covered it, so most of the voices here are enthusiast reviewers and owners rather than staff writers with a bench of rivals on hand.

Where to buy Product & retailer links

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