Meizu EP52

I got these earphones as a review unit from Gearbest.com, i specifically requested to review these in light of the popularity of Meizu's previous BT model – the EP51


I recommend buying from GB as they always provided me with the proper support\warranty\refunds for the products i bought from them.

Specific product page*: https://www.gearbest.com/earbud-headphones/pp_719800.html

*This link was not generated by me nor do i see any profit from you clicking on it.


Now on to the review:

Package\accessories: 5/5

The EP52 arrive in a really nice box, really a 5/5 presentation.

This level of packaging is usually reserved to big, expansive brands and the overall aesthetics of it automatically turns this product into a good gift idea.








Inside the box you can find the EP52, a rubber carrying bag, Charging cable, instructions booklet, 3 sets of regular S/M/L silicone eartips and 3 sets of rather unique silicone earhooks which we are suppose to fit between the eartips and the earphone (two are already fitted on the earpieces).





Ergonomics and controls: 5/5

It's important to take a minute and talk about this aspect of the EP52.

Meizu wrapped the part of the wire which goes on your neck with some kind of relatively-thick,soft silicone.

This is a brilliant move as the silicone acts as a weight which keeps the earphones in place.

In other BT earphones the following problems occur because the cable is not substential:

- One side (usually the side with the remote) is pulling the other side which causes the pulled side to come out of the ear.

- The Cable moves too easily when you jump,move or even when faced with strong wind. This causes Both sides of the earphones come to out of your ears.

Other than that, it's very noticeable that the earphones themselves are very light and small. These physical properties together with the inner-earhooks and the silicone wire make the EP52 very suitable for sports and physical activity.

The buttons on the remote are big and you can feel the "+ \ o \ - "buttons with your fingers.

On my Android device, +/- control the volume and track back\forward (when pressed long). Middle button controls pairing (long press), Turning the device on\off, "Pause" and answering calls.

Overall, the remote is very interactive and intuitive.



Sound:


Bass: (Grade: 4.5/5)

The EP52 is characterized by a V-shaped sound signature as the bass is leading the way.

The Bass seems to be punchy, fast and fun, but not overpowering.

My impression was that out of the box the bass was a bit too much but it mellowed out after a few hours of burn in.


Midrange: (Grade: 4.1/5)

Despite the presence of the bass on the EP52, the midrange manages to remain audible enough.
Sometimes it's apparent that Male vocalists will find themselves "with" the band while female singers will find themselves "in front" of the band.

I would definitely say that these earphones favor electronic\pop\rhythmic music over Rock music and Classical music.

I like the midrange of the EP52 until it hits the ~2Khz range. From 2K-4K it's a bit too harsh for my ears, nothing a bit of custom EQ can't fix though.
*Since sensitivity in this range differentiates from one person to the next it's important to note that I find most of my earphones harsh in the upper midrange area so take my complaint with a grain of salt.



Treble: (Grade: 4.2/5)

The treble on the EP52 provides enough energy, yet I find it to be a bit lacking in the instrument separation department. Treble heads would also wish for a bit more treble presence.




Isolation and sound Leak: 4/5

I was surprised to find out that these earphones actually provide pretty good isolation while music is playing.
They do a good job with blocking street noise. Only very loud noises managed to come through.


When it comes to sound leak, I was surprised to find out that these earphones leak sound to the outside world. Nothing crazy like old earbuds but it's there.

I imagine that this area was not a point of emphasis for Meizu since these are probably designed for Gym\outdoor sports use.


Misc:

- Earphones turn off the music automatically when stuck to each other using the magnets - They go into standby mode and turn off after 5 minutes.

- Snapping the magnets together in the middle of a phone call will end your phone call.



Comparison to my 3 other BT sets: QCY QY8 , AWEI A980BL and AWEI AK8:

(same number with a different letter means it's a tie decided by subjective preference)


Sports use:

1.Meizu EP52

2.QY8

3.AK8

4.A980BL (shallow fit and no silicone earhooks)


Battery:

1.AK8

2A. Meizu EP52

2B.QY8

3.A980BL


Looks:

1.Meizu EP52

2.A980BL

3.AK8 (just because they stick out a bit more than the A980BL)

4.QY8


*The EP52 looks WAY better than the rest. They look very cool.



Sound:

1A. A980BL

1B. AK8

2.QCY QY8

3.Meizu EP52


Conclusion:

Meizu did a nice job with is product aimed for the sports market.
They really nailed it in terms of design and other manufacturers can learn a lot from this model.

Although i don't rank their sound as the best I've tried, their ability to be good at their niche while looking good earns them the spot as my new Sports set.

Final Grade: 4.4/5