ERAND RESONANCE 5 Review
The IEM market is packed with hybrid earphones these days. Some try to give you as much detail as possible, while others focus more on musicality. Then there are a few that try to balance both. The ERAND RESONANCE 5 is one of those IEMs that surprised me. On paper, it has a pretty interesting driver setup with one liquid silicone dynamic driver, one dynamic driver, one midrange balanced armature, one high-frequency balanced armature and a micro planar unit, all working through a 5-way crossover. That sounds impressive, but specs don’t always tell the whole story.
After spending a good amount of time with it, I can honestly say this is one of my favorite releases of this year. It isn’t trying to be the most technical IEM around. Instead, it focuses on making music sound natural, rich and enjoyable. And man… those vocals. For this review, I used the Resonance 5 with the FiiO K13 R2R, EarMen ST-Amp, HiBy RS2, Sony ZX300, ddHiFi TC44C, ddHiFi TC44Pro M3, LG V50 and LG V60. I also used Final E Clear ear tips, which are one of my favorite tips for both comfort and sound.
Disclaimer
I got the ERAND RESONANCE 5 sent over by HIFICHOI for review, just to be clear. Everything I’m saying here is just my own thoughts, nobody told me what to say or anything like that. They didn’t pay me either, just sent the unit, that’s all.
I’ve been using the ERAND RESONANCE 5 with my usual setup… tried different genres, some gaming too, and this is all based on what I heard and how I like my sound. So yeah… your experience might be different.
Build Quality, Design & Accessories
The Resonance 5 has a simple but premium-looking design. My unit is the red version, and it uses a resin shell with a black body and a red glittery faceplate. The red pattern has a layered, almost smoky look under the surface, and I think it looks really nice without being overly flashy. The shell feels well made and solid. It doesn’t feel cheap at all.
Another thing I really like is the size. Even though it has a five-driver setup, the shell is quite small. If you have smaller ears, I don’t think you’ll have much trouble with it. The nozzle size is also just right. It isn’t too wide, and the red version has a small bump or lip that holds ear tips securely in place. I’ve seen some blue versions where this bump doesn’t seem to be there, so the ear tips may come off more easily. If I had to choose again, I’d probably go with the red version for that reason.
The included cable is a braided blue cable with interchangeable 3.5mm and 4.4mm plugs. I’ll be honest… the blue cable with the red IEM bothers me a little from a visual point of view. I think a black or red cable would have matched much better. But the cable quality itself is good for the price, so I don’t really have any complaints there.
Inside the box you get a dark blue brushed leather carrying pouch, the cable, some silicone ear tips and the usual paperwork. The included ear tips are nothing special. They’re cheap but usable, and I ended up switching to Final E Clear tips anyway.
Fit & Comfort
Comfort is excellent. The shell is lightweight and small, and the nozzle size feels just right. It doesn’t feel too large or too small. The cable is also lightweight, which helps during longer listening sessions. I had no problem wearing the Resonance 5 for seven or eight hours at a time. There is no annoying vacuum effect in the ears, and I never experienced driver flex.
For me, this is one of those IEMs that you can put on and simply forget you’re wearing.
Source Pairing
I tried the Resonance 5 with quite a few sources, including the FiiO K13 R2R, EarMen ST-Amp, HiBy RS2, Sony ZX300, ddHiFi TC44C, TC44Pro M3 and my LG V50 and V60. The good thing is that it pairs well with almost everything.
My favorite pairings were the Sony ZX300 and the EarMen ST-Amp. The Sony ZX300 tightened up the bass and gave it a little more punch, which I really enjoyed. The EarMen ST-Amp, on the other hand, felt like it showed the Resonance 5’s actual tuning. Everything sounded balanced and natural without pushing any part of the sound too much.
With the FiiO K13 R2R and HiBy RS2, the Resonance 5 became a little warmer and gained more note weight. Vocals sounded even thicker, which is something I personally enjoy. I don’t think this IEM is very picky about sources. Neutral and warm sources both work well. Bright sources add a little extra treble energy, so if you’re sensitive to treble, that’s something to keep in mind.
Sound Impressions
To my ears, the Resonance 5 has a balanced sound signature with a slight vocal focus. The bass is well balanced with the mids, and the treble is smooth enough to keep everything together. Nothing feels overly done. Everything is there in the right amount.
But the vocals…
Oh my god.
They are the reason I kept coming back to this IEM. The thick note weight, meaty presentation and mature character are exactly what I love in an IEM. Sorry if I sound like a fanboy here… but trust me, I think this is one of the most underrated IEMs released this year.
Bass
Okay guys… let’s talk about theeeee baasssss.
The sub-bass is well controlled and reaches deep. It has a good amount of rumble, but it isn’t one of those boom boom type of bass presentations. Instead, it stays controlled and clean. The sub-bass doesn’t mix with the mid-bass, which is one of the things I really appreciate here.
The mid-bass is well presented too. It isn’t the hardest hitting or tightest bass I’ve heard. To be honest, I would have liked it to be a little tighter and punchier. But this is a balanced IEM, and I think the bass quantity fits the overall tuning well.
The best part is how clean it stays. The bass doesn’t bleed into the mids, so vocals and instruments remain clear. It gives the low end enough weight to keep the music fun without taking over the whole presentation.
Mids & Vocals
Man… this thing is a master when it comes to mids and vocals.
The tuning feels musical and mature. Vocals sound natural, lush and close to organic. There is a little bit of coloration, but honestly… I love it. The mids are quite open, and instruments sound natural and believable.
Male vocals are probably my favorite part of the Resonance 5. They have that meaty, thick note weight that I always look for in an IEM. There is richness and character to them without sounding overly exaggerated. This is exactly my kind of vocal presentation.
The vocals are also slightly forward to my ears. They sit nicely in the center of the stage and are easy to focus on without becoming too intimate. I really like the way the Resonance 5 handles this because the vocals have presence but still leave some space around them.
Female vocals are another strong point. I honestly didn’t expect them to perform this well. There is a nice amount of sparkle and energy, but they never become harsh or fatiguing. I didn’t hear any annoying “sss” or “hss” sounds with most of my music.
If you pair the Resonance 5 with a bright source, female vocals become a little more energetic, and some people may find that slightly harsh. With neutral or warm sources, though, they sound excellent.
Electric guitars, cymbals, violins and other higher-pitched instruments all have a nice sparkle. They sound lively but remain natural and easy to listen to.
Treble
The treble is…
Smooth.
Really smooth.
Out of the box, I found it a little spicy. After around 30 to 60 hours of burn-in, based on my own experience, it became much smoother. After that, it was smooth like butter.
There is plenty of air and good extension. The treble never feels trapped inside your ears. Instead, the whole presentation feels open and spacious. Cymbals, violins, flutes and higher notes from guitars all sound natural and sparkly without becoming harsh.
This isn’t a treble-head type of tuning with crazy sparkle. The treble mainly works to balance the overall presentation, and I think it does that very well. It gives the music enough energy and air without taking away from the smooth character of the IEM.
Soundstage & Imaging
The soundstage is really good. It feels wide and open with a nice amount of depth. The overall stage is big enough that some orchestral recordings actually made me feel like I was sitting inside a concert hall.
Imaging is on point. I could clearly identify where instruments were placed, and everything had its own space. Vocals sit in the center with a nice amount of distance from the instruments around them.
This is also one of the reasons I enjoyed the Resonance 5 for gaming. The wide stage and accurate imaging give you a good sense of where sounds are coming from.
Technical Performance
I wouldn’t call the Resonance 5 a technical monster. Its main goal is making music enjoyable. But that doesn’t mean it’s bad technically.
Imaging is good, separation is clean, layering is decent and the soundstage is impressive. It just doesn’t chase every tiny detail like some analytical IEMs do. The technical performance is good enough to keep things clean and organized, but the main focus here is clearly musicality.
Personally… I’m completely fine with that. This is a musical IEM first, and I think it knows exactly what it wants to be.
Gaming Performance
I also spent quite a bit of time gaming with the Resonance 5. I tested it with CS2, Valorant, GTA V, Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grounded 2.
For casual gaming, it performs really well. Enemy footsteps are easy to hear, gun reload sounds next to you are clear, and positional cues are easy to follow because of the wide stage and good imaging.
The only time I noticed some details getting lost was when I was playing with friends and everyone was talking loudly on Discord. Because the Resonance 5 has a slight vocal focus, voices can take up a little more attention. But lowering the Discord volume solves most of that, so it isn’t a huge issue.
I wouldn’t recommend it specifically for hardcore competitive gaming, but for casual gaming, it works smoothly and is very enjoyable.
Comparisons
AFUL Performer 5
Compared with the AFUL Performer 5, the P5 has tighter bass and better mid-bass punch. But I prefer the vocals on the Resonance 5.
The P5 sounds a little thinner in the midrange, while the Resonance 5 gives vocals more body and note weight. The P5 also has a little more treble sparkle.
If I had to choose based on vocals alone, I’d pick the Resonance 5 without hesitation.
AFUL Performer 7
The AFUL Performer 7 is the better IEM overall in my opinion. It performs better across the board.
But the Resonance 5 sits nicely between the P5 and P7 in terms of overall character. It has a somewhat similar tonality and gives you a taste of that smooth, musical presentation at a lower level.
Final Thoughts
Should you buy the ERAND RESONANCE 5?
Honestly…
Yes.
I think this is an amazing IEM for the price. It has a beautiful design, excellent comfort, a wide soundstage and, most importantly, one of the best vocal presentations I’ve heard in this category.
The bass could be a little tighter, and it isn’t the most technical IEM around. But once I started listening to male vocals, female vocals and full orchestral tracks, I honestly stopped caring about those small things.
This is one of my favorite releases of this year.
It is musical, mature and simply enjoyable. Sometimes I found myself listening to another song instead of switching tracks to continue testing, and that usually tells me more about an IEM than any measurement or specification ever could.
If you love natural, lush vocals with thick note weight and a smooth, airy overall presentation, I think the Resonance 5 deserves a serious look.
For me, it earns a solid 4.7 out of 5 stars.
Happy Listening
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