Auglamour is a Chinese earphone manufacturer that sells products under its own brand name as well as providing OEM services to other companies. In this review, I’m looking at their latest model, the Auglamour RT5.
The RT5 is a dual-driver hybrid with one dynamic driver and one balanced armature driver. It has medical-grade resin shells and CNC machined aluminium-magnesium alloy faceplates. Let’s check it out.
Disclaimer: This sample was provided for the purpose of an honest review. All observations and opinions here are my own based on my experience with the product.
Auglamour RT5
Package and Accessories
The RT5 box has a dark grey cardboard sleeve with a colour photo of the earpieces on the front and specifications list on the back. Here’s what we find inside:
- Auglamour RT5 earphones
- Detachable 2-pin 0.78mm SPC OFC cable
- Clamshell carrying case
- 3 pairs of narrow-bore silicone eartips
- 3 pairs of wide-bore silicone eartips
- Shirt clip
Design, Comfort & Noise Isolation
The RT5 shells are made from medical-grade resin and have an aluminium-magnesium alloy CNC faceplate. The left faceplate is blue and the right is red and both sides sport a white Auglamour logo. A single pinhole vent is located near the base of the nozzle which has a solid lip and protective metal mesh cover. The RT5 adopts the increasingly popular C-Type 2-pin connector sockets.
Internally the Auglamour RT5 sports a 10mm titanium coated diaphragm dynamic driver and a Knowles 32873 balanced armature driver and utilizes a dual-channel audio duct. That is the same dynamic driver used in Auglamour’s current flagship model the RT3.
I find the ergonomics of the RT5 good and they fit really snugly in my ears. The length of the nozzles feels just right too and allows me to get a stable, secure fit. The passive noise isolation is good too, making the RT5 perfect for public transportation and noisy environments.
Cable
The included cable is a braided 8-core SPC OFC type. At the top end are transparent plastic C-type 2-pin connectors. Attached to the connector housings are some extremely stiff and aggressively curved ear guides – one of my current pet hates but your mileage may vary.
The Y-split and straight 3.5mm plug with knurling are matching aluminium. When it comes to handling, the cable itself is fine, has minimal microphonics and feels very robust.
Sound
Gear used for testing
- PC -> iFi Audio ZEN DAC
- FiiO M6
- iPhone with Yin Lu Mei B2
The Auglamour RT5 has a W-shaped sound signature with a moderate boost on all bands. A punchy low end, forward mids and a lively treble are coupled with good clarity and detail. RT5 has a fun tuning that’s optimized for normal people rather than audiophiles chasing the neutral holy grail. An impedance of 13.6Ω and 112.6dB sensitivity the RT5 has low power requirements and works with all kinds of devices including smartphones.
Bass
RT5’s bass is punchy and delivers with good impact. It’s not overblown or basshead level but it has a healthy dose of slam. The main emphasis is on the mid-bass but the sub-bass is still there with plenty of rumble and authority.
Attack and decay are reasonably fast and the bass is well-defined. It’s thick enough to yield a sense of power and it gives the overall tonality plenty of warmth without being dominant or destructive in the mix.
Mids
Midrange notes are quite forward, with a particular focus on the upper midrange. The boost at approximately 2.5-4.5kHz adds clarity and loudness but can be a bit glaring or fatiguing on some recordings. Jakob’s “Blind Them With Science” for example, sounds harsh on a lot of earphones but is more exhausting with the RT5.
One advantage of the upper-midrange lift is vocal presence and the RT5 takes advantage of this by making vocals upfront and intimate. Female vocals are slightly thin and could use a bit more warmth for naturalness.
Treble
The lower treble is brought forward and has a good amount of energy. It is a fairly detailed treble and isn’t sharp or sibilant. The upper treble rolls off steadily after 10kHz so there’s just a bit of sparkle but the sound is fairly airy and open.
I find the treble tone to be fairly accurate, though perhaps a little bit thin in the lower treble. The note density cuts the decay a tad short but overall it’s a pretty good treble for something at this price point.
Soundstage
The soundstage has average dimensions and is roughly equal in width and depth. When it comes to width, the RT5 reaches out to but not beyond the headspace. Depth is slightly more pronounced, with elements detectable behind the central image and vocals. Instrument separation is on par for this price bracket but it doesn’t really create a holographic scene.
Comparisons
iBasso IT00 ($69)
Auglamour RT5 vs iBasso IT00.
The iBasso IT00 is a single dynamic driver IEM. IT00 has superior sub-bass extension that gives it an authoritative and powerful sound. Mid-bass is more prominent too, however the IT00 bass has a faster attack and decay.
The IT00 upper-midrange is more linear, avoiding the glare and fatigue issues that the RT5 has. Despite having more bass quantity and less lower treble, the IT00 has greater resolution and natural tone.
By shifting its treble emphasis up the scale, the IT00 has an airier treble with more sparkle but the RT5 has slightly better detail retrieval. However, the iBasso is ultimately smoother and less fatiguing over time, trading some detail for musicality.
BGVP DN2 ($59)
Auglamour RT5 (red) vs BGVP DN2 (grey).
The BGVP DN2 is a dual-driver hybrid IEM with 1 beryllium-plated dynamic driver and 1 customized balanced armature driver. The DN2 has more bass elevation and a slower attack which makes bass notes thicker. On the other hand, the RT5 has better bass extension and sub-bass rumble.
In the midrange, the RT5 has more intimate and upfront vocals while the DN2 pushes them back a little more. Resolution is very close on both models but the RT5 has a little more detail retrieval because of its more forward treble.
Treble on the RT5 is more lively and has more zest than the DN2, however, the DN2’s midrange is not as upfront which gives the illusion of a more spacious stage. Furthermore, DN2’s midrange notes (particularly female vocals) are smoother albeit less articulate.
When it comes to treble, the DN2 has a more laid back approach while the RT5 is more in your face and demands attention. The DN2 cable is nicer and the included accessories are slightly better. Considering the DN2 costs $10 less, it makes it the more desirable, in my opinion.
Conclusion
The Auglamour RT5 is a competent entry-level earphone with upfront and engaging sound. It has excellent build quality and comes bundled with a good accessory kit. However, I think the pricing might be a little too aggressive considering the competition (Moondrop, Tin Hifi, iBasso, BGVP etc) in this crowded segment. Nonetheless, it offers a lively sound with hearty bass and good detail retrieval. If you’re looking for a starter IEM, this might be a good place to start.
Specifications
- Driver unit: 10mm titanium coated diaphragm dynamic driver + Knowles armature 32873
- Cable: 8C * 2-pin 0.78mm silver-plated oxygen-free copper wire core
- Frequency response range: 20-20000Hz
- Sensitivity: 112.6dB
- Impedance: 13.6Ω
