The QoA Gimlet ranks #657 out of 1061 total In-Ear Headphones for sound quality. See all Headphones rankings for every top pick.

Brand: QoA

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QoA Gimlet - ranked #657 of 1061 In-Ear Headphones · Editor's rating 3.5/5

Check price at Amazon ($160.95) →

#657 QoA Gimlet: $160.95 Amazon $160.95 eBay

Pros: A single dynamic IEM with a 10mm LCP diaphragm. Measurements show full sub-bass to 20 Hz (score 67 across seven measurements).

Cons: A 2.41 dB spread from the target shows peaks and dips that better tuned sets avoid.

Is the QoA Gimlet right for you?

Buy it if

you want sub-bass rumble that reaches down to 20 Hz.
you are happy to use EQ: our preset lifts its Harman match by about 17 points.

Skip it if

you want the best value: the higher-rated EPZ G10 costs about $137 less.

Back	Closed
Connection	Wired
Deviation From Target	2.41 dB standard deviation
Driver Type	Dynamic
Drivers	1 x 10mm dynamic (LCP)
Form Factor	In-ear
Harman Preference Score	67 (median of 7 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ)
Impedance	32 ohms
Sensitivity	108 dB
Sub-bass Extension	Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.6 dB at 30 Hz)
Tonal Tilt	-0.63 (negative is warmer, positive brighter)

EQ Presets

Target sound

Harman target

Set a preamp of -5.2 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 7 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Harman match with this EQ: 84 out of 100, up from 67.

Filter	Frequency	Gain	Q
Low shelf	105 Hz	-0.7 dB	0.70
High shelf	10,000 Hz	-4.2 dB	0.70
Peak	23 Hz	+1.8 dB	1.50
Peak	166 Hz	-5.2 dB	0.75
Peak	5,941 Hz	+5.5 dB	4.67

Neutral target

Set a preamp of -5.2 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 7 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Neutral match with this EQ: 86 out of 100, up from 34.

Filter	Frequency	Gain	Q
Low shelf	105 Hz	-9.3 dB	0.70
High shelf	10,000 Hz	-4.2 dB	0.70
Peak	158 Hz	-5.1 dB	0.68
Peak	5,941 Hz	+5.5 dB	4.67

Studio flat target

Set a preamp of -3.7 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 7 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Studio flat match with this EQ: 87 out of 100, up from 14.

Filter	Frequency	Gain	Q
Low shelf	105 Hz	-11.7 dB	0.70
High shelf	10,000 Hz	+1.5 dB	0.70
Peak	168 Hz	-7.0 dB	0.72
Peak	792 Hz	+1.4 dB	2.28
Peak	2,957 Hz	+2.7 dB	3.57
Peak	4,606 Hz	-2.1 dB	5.87
Peak	6,047 Hz	+3.6 dB	5.00

Warm target

Set a preamp of -1.5 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 7 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Warm match with this EQ: 88 out of 100, up from 75.

Filter	Frequency	Gain	Q
Low shelf	105 Hz	-0.5 dB	0.70
High shelf	10,000 Hz	-6.0 dB	0.70
Peak	23 Hz	+1.8 dB	1.51
Peak	163 Hz	-4.9 dB	0.77
Peak	775 Hz	+1.8 dB	2.35
Peak	2,036 Hz	-1.5 dB	2.61
Peak	4,148 Hz	-1.4 dB	0.69
Peak	6,127 Hz	+3.3 dB	6.00

Bass target

Set a preamp of -5.2 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 7 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Bass match with this EQ: 85 out of 100, up from 70.

Filter	Frequency	Gain	Q
Low shelf	105 Hz	+3.1 dB	0.70
High shelf	10,000 Hz	-4.2 dB	0.70
Peak	23 Hz	+2.0 dB	1.39
Peak	169 Hz	-5.1 dB	0.77
Peak	5,941 Hz	+5.5 dB	4.67

Bright target

Set a preamp of -5.9 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 7 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Bright match with this EQ: 81 out of 100, up from 22.

Filter	Frequency	Gain	Q
Low shelf	105 Hz	-9.3 dB	0.70
High shelf	10,000 Hz	-1.0 dB	0.70
Peak	23 Hz	+1.4 dB	1.88
Peak	158 Hz	-5.2 dB	0.67
Peak	761 Hz	+1.5 dB	2.60
Peak	1,965 Hz	-1.2 dB	2.43
Peak	3,397 Hz	+1.7 dB	6.00
Peak	5,593 Hz	+5.9 dB	2.52

V-shaped target

Set a preamp of -5.6 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 7 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted V-shaped match with this EQ: 78 out of 100, up from 62.

Filter	Frequency	Gain	Q
Low shelf	105 Hz	+3.7 dB	0.70
Peak	23 Hz	+1.9 dB	1.46
Peak	158 Hz	-3.8 dB	0.80
Peak	693 Hz	+1.0 dB	2.74
Peak	1,820 Hz	-0.9 dB	1.97
Peak	3,308 Hz	+1.9 dB	6.00
Peak	5,438 Hz	+5.6 dB	1.97

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Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Frequency response measurements of the QoA Gimlet by 7 squig.link measurers

Frequency Response

How the QoA Gimlet measures across the audible range, against the Harman in-ear target that most listeners prefer in blind tests. Where the line sits above the target that range sounds louder (more bass, brighter treble), below it quieter. The curve is the median of 7 independent measurements, so one odd sample or rig cannot skew it, and both lines are shifted so their 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB.

QoA GimletHarman target

Measurement data: median of 7 measurements from the squig.link databases of achoreviews, aftersound, arn, fahryst, lown-fi, practiphile and pw. Thanks to each of them for publishing their work.

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