A budget friendly IEM from QoA, a sub brand from Kinera.
Kinera QoA Gimlet IEM
Sometimes I go with the ‘hype-flow,’ and purchase IEMs that got attention of audiophiles. But this time, I wasn’t impressed and think that, it’s just another hype like Salnote Zero2. But after my first audition I craved for Gimlet but it was stock-out that time. But when Kinera’s sub brand QoA releases the ‘blue’ color variant, I rushed to the store and bought it.
I’m passionate travel photographer and love to hike. I went on a week-long hiking trip on the hill side with my Planue R2 & Gimlet in the pocket. Spend a quality time listening to the music of various genres and surprised by its ability to produce high quality sound.
I’m a crazy warm head, you can say. I love the warmth they put in Gimlet tuning. I paired it with my beloved Hip DAC 2 & Moondrop Dawn pro and surprised how well it worked with different combinations. Planue R2 is always the best to drive dynamic drivers, and didn’t fail here. With Dawn pro the vocals feel a bit forward and open and with Hip DAC 2 it characterizes itself as a ‘warm beast.’
As always, I rolled tips & swapped cables. The supplied cable and ear tips are good enough to listen to but I love to experiment with different combinations. I’ll go into further detail about the cable and tips at a later section of this review.
DISCLAIMER
This is not a review unit and I purchased the QoA Gimlet with my own money and own interest. There is no monitory transaction between me & the respective company. And this ‘Kinera QoA Gimlet review’ is totally unbiased and upon my listening experience.
One thing more. The review is based on my personal experience and what I hear using different sources. Your experience may very due to personal preference and physical difference like the shape & depth of ear cannel.
Geek Mart is the place if you are in Bangladesh.
HifiGo if you live elsewhere.
GEARS USED
• Cowon Planue R2
• ifi Hip DAC 2 (both with mobile & PC)
• Moondrop Dawn Pro (both with mobile & PC)
• Poco X3
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
• 10mm LCP Diaphragm Dynamic Driver
• Impedance: 32 ohms
• Sensitivity: 108dB
• Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
• 4N 4-core OFC Silver Plated Cable
• Cable length: 1.2m (Detachable)
• 3.5mm Termination Plug
WHAT’S IN THE BOX
• One pair of QoA Gimlet In-ear monitors.
• One 4N 4-core OFC Silver Plated Cable.
• Six pairs Custom ear tips.
• PU Case with inner velvet protection.
• User Manual
UNBOXING EXPERIENCE
Gimlet’s unboxing experience is straightforward; nothing fancy. It comes in a light cardboard box, and when you open it, you will be greeted by a lovely Chinese lady named Sophie Yu, the founder of the Queen of Audio. The attractive carrying case contains the IEM, cable, and ear tips. I like this simple packaging style that includes everything you need for the IEM.
The faceplate features very attractive golden QoA logo, which I believe is a brilliant design touch. The supplied cable is low-profile, soft, tangle-free, and produces no microphonics. They provided two varieties of ear tips (S, M, and L each) for a total of six pairs, which are really useful for an ultra-low-cost entry-level IEM. They worked great, especially the pale blue one.
The IEMs are glossy, so keep them away from any potential collisions to avoid scratches.
BUILD QUALITY
The shell of the Gimlet is produced in durable molded acrylic and lends a solid premium feel to the thing. The choice of material adds to the overall robustness of the IEM while maintaining a comparatively light weight for comfort during long sessions of listening. They come in three different colors: Green, White & Blue.
Supplied cable is a high-purity, 4-core silver-plated oxygen-free copper (OFC) cable. This is more than enough to drive the IEM and features lightweight ear hooks design for a secure and comfortable fit. The ear tips are made of soft silicon and are easy to wear. Six sets of ear tips allow users to ensure a proper fit and seal for a variety of ear sizes.
One of the Gimlet’s standout features is its protective PU case, which has an interior velvet lining. This case is both useful and elegant, ensuring safe travel with the IEM and storage when not in use. Even some mid-budgeted IEMs lack this type of convenient carrying case!
FIT & COMFORT
Based on my experience with the QoA Gimlet, the unusual shape and design make regular-shaped ear tips somewhat of an issue, but once I finally found the well-fitting ear tips, comfort improved considerably. Just something to bear in mind, tips with a little large nozzle work great with it in terms of fit and comfort. While the tangle of the ear tips was an issue, the overall performance made up for it in the case of Gimlet. Worth every minute that might go in looking for a perfect fit, this QoA Gimlet should be kept in mind while seeking audio gadgetry.
SOUND IMPRESSIONS
The QoA Gimlet sports a 10mm LCP composite diagram DD, amplifying the delivery for detailed sound. Just like how gin and lime juice go together in the perfect mix in a classic Gimlet cocktail, rigid material LCP offers accuracy and naturalness in sound reproduction. It leans more to the warm & musical side and is by no means an analytical set, but rather it’s tuned for a more pleasing listen.
It has a full-bodied, clean midrange, and the instruments are clearly reproduced while the vocals are in the center. The bass response is powerful and clear, lending support to other instruments. The treble is smooth and bright, boosts the quality of sound. With this in mind, the Gimlet fits most musical genres and casual listening.
SUB-BASS
Indeed, QoA Gimlet’s sub-bass is quite a treat for those who enjoy the low ends both weighted and well-balanced. Not about shattering rumble here, but rather a quality, tight presence that adds considerable depth and body to the music without ever getting muddy or bleeding into the mids.
This trait is especially prominent in songs, such as “Listen to Your Heart” by Roxette, where the sub-bass gives a brightness to the whole melody when it is low in level, giving substantial ground without overpowering the vocal or high frequencies. While bass heads might hanker after a more aggressive thump, the Gimlet focuses on quality over quantity. The bass hits strong and present without being overbearing-perfect, in fact, for listeners who like a clean and controlled low-end response.
MID-BASS
But the star of the show in the QoA Gimlet’s sound signature, without question, belongs to the mid-bass response. It’s hefty, weighty, and fairly satisfying in a thump, never becoming too overbearing against the rest of the sound, really showing itself through clear, detailed textures within the bass itself. You’re really able to appreciate nuances of bass guitar lines and other instruments slung low in the midrange.
Take Morten Harket’s “Brother” for example. The QoA Gimlet does indeed let you feel that mid-bass dig deep without ever muffling vocals or other instruments, an affliction that usually plagues the more budgetary IEM options.Amazing control considering the asking price for the Gimlet. The midbass hits with satisfying impact, lending a layer of warmth and body to the music without ever becoming boomy or overwhelming. This lets other instruments, such as guitars and drums, cut through clear and rounded to make for a well-rounded and coherent listen.
MALE VOCALS
The QoA Gimlet does a great job in the reproduction of male voices, engaging the listener with a warm presentation that sounds full-bodied. The vocals show proper thickness and weight, expressing good emotional delivery from the singer without losing clarity. With a track like “River of Dreams” from Billy Joel, it captures his voice so gloriously with regard to the textured nature of Joel’s voice, grasping every nuance and inflection in his voice with stunning precision.
You can feel the subtle rasp in the voice at times of emotional highs and the smooth richness when lower registers are reached-all the while never losing that melody itself. This full-bodied presentation doesn’t cross the line into excessive muddiness, so the vocals sound clear and up-front in the mix.
FEMALE VOCALS
With the QoA Gimlet, female vocals take a different tack: powerful, smooth presentation over bright or sparkly. That’s where you can really appreciate all the aspects of what a female vocalist can bring, from raw power in high notes to delicate subtlety. Consider Alison Krauss’ “When You Say Nothing at All.” You can hear quite a range in her voice: belting out high notes, nuanced textures, and even quiet breaths between the lyrics.
And it’s finding a balance between strength and finesse that really makes for real strength in vocal presentation on The Gimlet. But perhaps let’s point out that for those who like a super bright and airy sound for female vocals, this IEM might be a touch too smooth. The presentation here focuses on the natural, realistic point of view, not the analytical one.
TREBLE
The QoA Gimlet’s treble performance is smooth and inoffensive, really, making it a very easy listen for people who get fatigued by overly bright or sibilant treble. It is like eating a soft, sweet cupcake that way. Up high, there is no aggressive peak or overdone sparkle to this treble. This smoothness does indeed come at a cost, however. The treble does tend to be rather lifeless and lacks energy and sparkle with poorly mastered tracks. That might be a disappointment for any treble-heads out there who like their sound analytical & sharp. QoA Gimlet is tuned for safety above all else.
INSTRUMENT SEPARATION
For the money that this QoA Gimlet is going to sell, it’s punching way above its weight in terms of the clarity and separation of an instrument soundstage. Listening to LeAnn Rimes “Nothing About Love Makes Sense.” The Gimlet easily manages to separate the melodic violins from the harmonicas, despite both occupying roughly similar frequency ranges. You can very easily discern the rhythmic strumming of acoustic guitars in the background while Rimes’ vocals occupy center stage. Subtle details, such as backing vocals, are audible, too. You can appreciate all the richness of the arrangement. While it doesn’t offer the pinpoint accuracy you’d get with really high-end IEMs, instrument separation on the Gimlet is impressively good for its class.
SOUNDSTAGE
While the QoA Gimlet doesn’t have one of the widest soundstages I’ve encountered from some significantly more expensive IEMs, it avoids feeling congested. The instrument placement seems decently separated, given room to breathe without bleeding into each other. This is especially apparent in tracks with obvious stereo panning effects, such as Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” You won’t get a large, almost concert hall-like experience, though. Instead, the soundstage is in-closer and the musicians presented in a focused, coherent space. This has its merits-vocals often take the lead, and overall the presentation seems much more engaging. If you want a huge, expansive soundstage where instruments are very specifically placed on a wide plane, the Gimlet may leave you wanting.
CABLE & TOP ROLLING
This is my favorite part. I always like shuffle tips & cable for fit, comfort, and sound. I start swapping after using the stock cable and tips for a few sessions. With that said, the “NiceHCK MixPP” and the “EPZ DP5” gave me the sound that I love, as is usually the case. Both of these effectively characterize IEM across the whole frequency range.
Regarding the ear tips, this is quite tricky because the Gimlet is in an odd shape. Discovering the ideal fit and isolation might be challenging. As I mentioned earlier, I tried many ear tips and finally stuck with the Penon Liqueur (black). They are sticky and hold the IEM perfectly inside with good comfort, while making the lower frequency a bit bold without overpowering the mids & upper frequencies.
You don’t have to worry about these things if you’re just starting out on your audiophile journey. Because, the stock cable & tips are enough to get the job done. But if you are someone like me, who loves to shuffle cables & ear tips a lot, you may try to find your own sweet spot.
RECOMMENDED FOR
● Budget-minded listeners
● Those who prioritize a warm and musical sound
● Listeners who find harsh treble fatiguing
● Fans of clear vocals
● Those who appreciate good instrument separation
● Listeners who prefer an intimate soundstage
NOT FOR
● Bass heads
● Treble Enthusiasts
● Wide Soundstage Seekers
● Audiophiles with High Expectations
CONCLUSION
Here’s the bottom line: If you want a budget IEM that sounds warm, enjoyable, with clear vocals and decent instrument separation, the QoA Gimlet won’t go wrong. Bassheads and treble-heads may find it too mediocre in power or sparkle, respectively, while those who crave an absolutely widest soundstage or the most analytical of sounds should look elsewhere. The QoA Gimlet is fine for casual listeners and audiophiles on a budget looking to get into a smooth and musical presentation overall.
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