Simgot ET142: multiple personality disorder.
Hello Community!
It is a great pleasure to share my experiences with the Simgot ET142, a special set of monitors and one of the brand’s flagships. I have spent days with it, enjoyed others, and picked them up again to finally bring you an analysis as accurate as possible, avoiding leaving anything in the inkwell.
Price: 230€-250$
Pros:
-Technical capabilities above average.
-The sound separation is a delight.
-Very notable treble extension.
-Great level of macro and micro details.
-Airy sound presentation.
-Sense of speed and precision.
Cons:
-It can be excessively revealing.
-With some nozzles fatigue may appear.
-The planar timbre is very noticeable with some nozzles.
Accessories:
-Two shells.
-Three sets of ear tips.
-Four pairs of tuning nozzles.
-Sixteen pairs of O-rings for the nozzles.
-Two pairs of foam filters for the nozzles.
-Cable with 0.78mm termination and modular 3.5mm/4.4mm connection.
-Carrying and storage case.
-User manual.
Comfort, design and construction:
The shape of the shell fits quite naturally in my ear, and although they are not the lightest IEMs, the weight is well distributed. I was able to use them during long sessions without them becoming uncomfortable, something I value quite a lot.
With the stock ear tips, I feel that I have many options to find the perfect fit. They come with three different sets and that allows me to play both with comfort and with the type of sound.
At the design and aesthetic level, they seem very striking to me. They have that polished mirror-like metallic finish that looks quite premium, although yes, fingerprints show easily. Even so, in hand and worn they convey a feeling of a well-cared and high-end product.
In terms of materials and build quality, I notice them very solid. They give that sense of durability by being made of CNC metal, as if they were going to withstand the passage of time well. They do not feel fragile at any point and the body sealing is well finished.
I also like the cable quite a lot. It is thick but flexible, does not tangle easily and feels of good quality.
In general, my feeling is that the whole set is very well thought out and built, with an approach clearly pointing towards higher ranges.
Technical aspects:
-1PLN+1PZT configuration.
-Impedance of 14 ohms.
-118 dB.
-Declared response 8hz-40khz.
Nozzles:
ET142 offers a set of interchangeable nozzles, each with a well distinguishable and differentiating tuning. The blue nozzle will be the reference for comparisons.
Blue (long): the bass is not the protagonist for its rumble, but it is agile, firm and dry, giving way to a very clean, spacious midrange with outstanding note weight. The treble is detailed, sparkling and open. Without internal foam filter.
Yellow (long): somewhat warmer in the midrange but the upper part gains brightness and information. The bass gains a bit of weight. The stage feels somewhat more compressed but the sound positioning is absolutely outstanding. Without internal foam filter.
Black (short): seeks balance and focuses on smoothing the higher frequencies. The mids step forward showing a frontal presentation of voices and instruments and regarding the low frequencies, they are controlled at all times, without overflow or excessive prominence. It carries an internal foam filter.
Red (short): bass and sub-bass gain a lot of prominence, but with a somewhat slow decay that may seem not clean. The mids maintain a soft and pleasant texture, with enough presence and separation although they are slightly invaded by the lower frequencies. The upper range is trimmed and far from any sibilant brightness, reducing in a certain way the captured detail.
Configuration for tests:
-Warm/neutral source.
-Gain set to medium.
-Stock cable 4.4mm.
-Blue nozzle + stock ear tips with orange core for music.
-Red nozzle + stock ear tips with orange core for single player videogames.
-Yellow nozzle + Tri Clarion ear tips for multiplayer videogames.
Sound signature
Starting with the lowest frequencies, here I clearly notice that the bass does not want to be the protagonist. It is that typical planar magnetic bass, fast, clean and with a short decay that makes everything sound very orderly. The sub-bass is there, it does not disappear, it is heard with a natural wrap that can shake your head although it is more a presence than an overwhelming experience. It appears when the track asks for it and leaves without a trace. The mid-bass has punch but is dry, more focused on marking rhythm than giving body.
There is no big hit nor that physical sensation of warmth. Here everything is focused on control. In complex tracks I enjoyed it a lot because it never invades the mids, it never gets dirty. I can follow the bass without effort and with emotion. It is a bass that I respect and savor to exhaustion. If I look for precision, it is perfect, but if I look for extreme fun or warmth, it falls a bit short. Even so, the cleanliness and separation are top and very much in line with what is expected from a well implemented planar
Speaking of the midrange, ET142 begins to show its grace. The mids feel very open, quite airy and with good overall clarity. They move completely away from the density given by a warm sound signature, rather they approach and achieve a slightly bright neutrality. Guitars have that crunchy touch, details come out easily. It is not a thick midrange, it may even lack emotion although it is gratifyingly technical. What I do like is that it does not sound forced: fluidity is its hallmark, everything has its well delimited space, I separate instruments effortlessly, with a highly organic dynamism. Despite this, sometimes, and depending on recordings, I feel that there is a slight distance. That helps it not to fatigue, but also makes it lose some intimacy. It is not a romantic midrange, but it is extremely clean and functional.
Now in the high range, and this is where this blue nozzle makes sense. The treble has air, a lot of extension and that point of brightness that makes everything sound bigger. It is not as aggressive as the yellow, but it is not soft either; future buyers are warned. It is in that middle point where there is sparkle without becoming unbearable. Cymbals have good definition, fine details shine easily and there is quite a sense of space. The PZT driver is very noticeable here, especially in that spicy touch that gives texture to the treble. What I do notice is that, if I raise the volume a lot, it starts to be too expressive. It is not the most relaxed IEM in the world, sometimes it behaves like a knife, it wants you to pay attention. I like it because it maintains detail without becoming excessive, and that makes it more usable day to day.
In vocals, it seems quite balanced to me. Deep male voices sound somewhat light, they lack a bit of body. Normal male voices are well positioned, clear, without exaggerations. And female voices have good presence, with that air that makes them stand out, but without becoming too aggressive. In general, I would say that the voices here are more clean than emotional.
In imaging I notice that it is one of its strong points. I can place sounds quite precisely, even in lateral planes and towards the back. It is not ultra surgical, but it is very competent and fun for games or complex tracks.
The soundstage feels quite open, especially in width. Not so much in height, but I do have that sensation of air around. It is not gigantic, but it is above average in its range.
In layering it performs very well, although it is not its star point. The layers are separated, with a well measured scale. Everything is perceived clearly, but more horizontally than in depth.
And in detail retrieval… here it really shines. The detail is there, easy to perceive, without having to force listening in a more technical approach.
Single player videogames:
Always looking for the most cinematic experience possible, tested in narrative and intensive action titles. Check my blog to see the specific games and the conditions of audio analysis in videogames.
With the Simgot ET142 and red washer nozzle, in single player videogames everything feels more cinematic and less surgical, as if the game were designed for you to enjoy it instead of analyzing it.
In action passages, the first thing that catches my attention is the weight that hits and explosions have. The bass here is not the fastest nor the driest, but it is rounder and with much more body, which makes each impact have a kind of natural reverb that fills the scene. It is not that hyper controlled bass of technical profile, here everything sounds bigger than it is, more dramatic, more forceful. In intense combats it is appreciated because the action feels more physical, although in extreme chaos I lose a bit of definition among so many effects. Even so, I prefer that more enjoyable approach than analytical in this type of games.
The dialogue scenes follow that same line: warm, soft and quite natural voices. They are not exaggeratedly forward nor have that bright edge that can tire. They are easy to follow, although in moments with a lot of action behind they can lose a bit of sharpness. But in general, everything feels more relaxed and less aggressive.
Regarding immersion, is where this tuning shines the most. Environmental sounds have more atmosphere than technical precision: wind, distant footsteps, echoes, machinery in the background… everything forms a continuous background that puts you inside the game world without you analyzing every detail. It is that type of sound that gently draws you in and simply lets you play.
The stage feels relatively wide horizontally, with decent depth that helps separate near from far, although it does not become especially holographic or open. It is more enveloping than expansive. For this type of videogames it is more than enough.
Speaking of the separation of sound elements, it performs well but is not very remarkable. In simple scenes everything is clear, but when it fills with effects, the sounds tend to come together a bit, without becoming confusing, without losing resolution, but the loss of transparency is somewhat evident compared to other nozzles.
Sibilance is quite well controlled, even in intense moments, effects or raised voices. There are no annoying peaks or exaggerated harshness, everything remains smooth. Perfect for long hours of gaming.
And positioning is correct and intuitive. You can locate enemies and directions without problem, but it is not millimetric precision. It is more a clearly enjoyment-oriented approach.
Multiplayer shooter videogames:
Always looking for the most analytical experience of the scenario possible, tested in competitive shooter titles. Check my blog to see the specific shooter games and the conditions of audio analysis in videogames.
With the Simgot ET142 with yellow nozzle, in competitive multiplayer the audio feels more immediate, brighter and with a quite aggressive reading of the sound. It is a tuning that prioritizes that you notice everything very quickly, although this is not always the most optimal.
In Counter Strike 2, the performance is quite solid in terms of reaction. Footsteps are projected with great clarity due to the push in high frequencies, which helps to detect directions effortlessly. Lateral positioning is very reliable and the timing of movements is perceived as accurate. The problem appears when the round becomes very intense, which can make the scene lose some air, becoming more compressed than ideal. It is not confusing, but less surgical than more neutral options.
In Apex Legends, this nozzle option shows its most chaotic side. The verticality of the game and the number of abilities make the scene feel sharper in your ears. I can follow important sounds well, but the coherence of the environment is not always firm. There is good detection of events, although everything tends to be more piled up when the fight gets complicated. It works better for aggressive play than for calmly reading information.
In Call of Duty Warzone, the performance is useful but demanding. Footsteps stand out very well, even in noisy environments, which helps to react quickly. However, the problem is that the game itself is already very saturated sonically, and with this tuning everything becomes even brighter and more loaded. The separation holds up quite well, but not always with total cleanliness when there are explosions, vehicles and gunfire simultaneously.
In Battlefield 6, the yellow feels more spectacular than precise. The battlefield sounds big and energetic, but the organization of layers is not its strong point here. I distinguish key situations, yes, but the scene loses some hierarchy: everything sounds quite present at the same level. It is immersive, but less tactical.
Overall, this nozzle in competitive is fast, striking and reactive, but sacrifices some order and stability when the environment becomes too dense or chaotic.
Final conclusion and personal evaluations:
The ET142 is one of those IEMs that do not stay still in a single personality, but rather seem to enjoy changing masks depending on what you ask of them. And that is precisely what makes them so entertaining and tempting: it is not a passive listening, it is almost as if you and the earphone were playing to see which version of the sound fits best at each moment.
In its blue version, the sound feels like a large, well-lit room, where everything is placed with elegant logic. There is air, there is order, and above all there is a feeling of nothing is left over here. It is a presentation that does not push emotions into your face, but invites you to observe calmly, like someone looking at a stage from the perfect distance. Everything is there, clean, defined, but without rush or dramatics.
When the yellow version comes in, the atmosphere changes as if someone had raised the temperature of the room a bit. Everything becomes more immediate, more lively, more direct. It is as if the sound takes a step towards you with a certain mischief, saying “look at this too”. Details shine much more, things happen closer, and there is a sense of urgency that hooks quite a lot in games or intense moments. That said, so much closeness sometimes makes the space lose some oxygen.
The black variant is the sensible friend of the group. It does not raise its voice, it does not seek protagonism, but it is the one that best knows how to keep the conversation in order. Here everything flows naturally, without roughness or excess. It is the mode that accompanies you for hours without you noticing, like background music that you suddenly discover you have been enjoying more than you thought. It is comfortable, stable, and quite smart when it comes to not bothering.
And the red version is the most playful of all, but also the most relaxed. It is like putting on sunglasses indoors: everything softens, becomes more rounded, closer to touch than to analysis. Here the experience is pure sensory comfort, perfect to disconnect or to get lost in games where the important thing is not to dissect every sound, but to let yourself be carried away by the atmosphere or the emotion of the forcefulness of its bass. That said, so much softness also makes some things pass more lightly.
Overall, the ET142 is less an IEM with a single signature and more a small portable laboratory of sensations. Its great asset lies in that almost mischievous versatility, in how it can go from being an elegant observer to a more impulsive companion without changing body, only attitude. That adaptability makes it very fun, almost addictive to adjust.
Its greatest virtues appear in the general cleanliness and in that ease with which everything separates and is understood, even when the scene becomes complicated. But if what you are looking for is a sound with a fixed personality, very emotional or deeply romantic without touching anything, you are not going to find that here. This is not the type of IEM that takes you by the hand; it is rather the one that lets you choose how you want it to speak to you today.
Ultimately, it is designed for someone curious, one of those who enjoy changing the listening mode almost like changing lenses on a camera. For the listener who wants a single immovable identity it may feel somewhat elusive, but for those who enjoy exploring nuances, it is a fairly serious toy disguised as fun.
ET142 is a specimen of multiple personality.
If you made it this far, thank you for reading.
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Disclaimer:
This set of monitors has been sent by Simgot. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to be able to test one of their products at no cost and that no condition has been imposed when preparing this analysis.
Despite this, my priority is to be as impartial as possible within the subjectivity involved in analyzing an audio product. My opinion belongs only to me and I develop it around the perception of my ears. If you have a different one, it is equally valid. Please feel free to share it.
My sources:
-FiiO K11 for music and videogames on the main PC.
-FiiO KA13 while I work.
-FiiO BTA30 Pro + FiiO BTR13 for wireless LDAC listening at home.
-FiiO BTR13 + FiiO BT11 + Iphone 16 Pro Max for wireless listening on the street.
-FiiO KA11.
-FiiO Jiezi 3.5mm/4.4mm
-Shanling M0 Pro 3.5mm/4.4mm.
-Apple Music.
-Local FLAC and MP3 files.