EPZ P50

A perfect example of high-quality “New Neutral” tuned IEM

The EPZ P50 is an exceptional IEM that represents one of the finest examples of the “new meta”/“new neutral” tuning philosophy available today. I believe the P50 represents what happens when a manufacturer gets focused on delivery something highly competitive with a 1DD+2BA+2Planar hybrid driver configuration.

After listening to it for a month, I can confidently say this is one of the best IEMs released this year. While not cheap at $200, the P50 does pack a lot into a surprisingly small but also comfortable shell and most importantly, the P50 delivers a very nice twist on the “new meta” tuning, so let me call this the “new neutral” tuning as it combines some of the best of a “Harman Neutral” tuning with the best aspects of a JM-1 “new meta” tuning.

Since the current hype around the CrinEar Daybreak’s release, credit to EPZ for having released the P50 many months ago, with both a similar driver configuration and a very similar tuning. Is it better, well-read on to find out.

But before I get into the sound signature, let’s have a look inside the box:

Unboxing and Build Quality

The EPZ P50 arrives in typical EPZ packaging that immediately conveys the premium nature of the product:

I do love when a manufacturer proudly shows the FR on the back of the box:

Removing the sleeve reveals in inside box:

Opening the box reveals a well-organized presentation:

Inside the box, you’ll find:

• EPZ P50 IEMs with premium cable
• High-quality carrying case
• Adapters for the cable
• Multiple sets of ear tips
• Documentation

There’s also a dedicated accessory box for the smaller items:

Premium Accessories

The P50 comes with a high-quality carrying case that reflects the premium positioning:

Opening the case reveals the cable:

The included cable is exceptional, one of the nicest cables I have on any IEM, featuring 6N single crystal copper with silver plating:

The cable includes both 3.5mm and 4.4mm balanced connectors:

The adapters use a 4-pin layout as follows:

The quality of this cable and the 2 adapters are excellent. However, I would have loved to see a DSP usb-c adapter also included like in the recent Tanchjim Fission. I would have thought this would be easy as EPZ already provides some excellent dsp enabled devices including the EPZ-tp13 and EPZ-tp35pro but this is a minor nitpick.

Build Quality and Design

The P50’s build quality is exceptional, with beautifully crafted metal shells that feel premium in hand:

Despite housing five drivers (1DD+2BA+2Planar), the shells are surprisingly compact and comfortable:

The open-backed faceplates are not just aesthetically pleasing but also contribute to the soundstage presentation. The attention to detail in the construction is evident throughout, from the precise driver integration to the quality of the cable terminations.

Fit and Comfort

One of the P50’s standout features that sets it apart in my opinion, is its exceptional comfort despite the complex five-driver configuration. The shells are surprisingly small and ergonomically designed to fit securely without causing fatigue during extended listening sessions.

The lightweight construction and smooth shell finish contribute to the comfortable fit, while the included selection of ear tips ensures a proper seal for most ear shapes. The cable’s ergonomic design and lack of microphonics further enhance the wearing experience.

This superior comfort is one of the key advantages the P50 has over the CrinEar Daybreak (having briefly tried the Daybreak at a recent Canjam), making it, in my opinion, more suitable for long listening sessions where comfort becomes crucial.

Sound Impressions

The EPZ P50 delivers what I consider to be one of the best implementations of the “new meta” tuning philosophy available today. The sound signature is engaging, detailed, and musical while maintaining excellent technical performance across all frequencies.

Bass

The bass response is controlled, impactful, and well-extended. The dynamic driver provides excellent sub-bass extension with good texture and impact, while maintaining clarity and avoiding any muddiness. The bass has excellent speed and control, contributing to the overall coherent presentation without overwhelming the midrange frequencies.

Testing with Massive Attack’s “Teardrop,” the P50 delivers the track’s deep sub-bass foundation with excellent control and texture, allowing the subtle bass details to emerge clearly without overwhelming the delicate vocal presentation.

The bass tuning strikes an excellent balance between technical accuracy and musical enjoyment, providing enough impact for electronic music while remaining articulate for acoustic genres.

Compared to most JM-1 tuned IEM, I do like how restrained the P50 is and how it still combines some aspects of the Harman bass to make sure we get a clear separation between the bass and the midrange.

Midrange

The midrange is where the P50 truly excels, delivering natural timbre and excellent detail retrieval. Vocals are presented with remarkable clarity and emotional engagement, while instruments maintain their natural character and spatial positioning.

Jennifer Warnes’ “Way Down Deep” showcases the P50’s exceptional midrange capabilities, with her intimate vocal delivery rendered with stunning clarity and emotional weight. The subtle instrumental details and spatial cues are preserved beautifully, demonstrating the balanced armature drivers’ precision.

The balanced armature drivers handle the midrange frequencies with precision, providing excellent separation and layering. The tuning avoids the common pitfalls of hybrid designs, maintaining coherence between the different driver types.

Treble

The treble presentation is detailed, extended, and refined without becoming harsh or fatiguing. The planar drivers contribute exceptional speed and detail retrieval, revealing micro-details in recordings while maintaining a smooth, non-fatiguing character.

Björk’s “Hunter” demonstrates the P50’s treble capabilities beautifully, with the track’s intricate electronic textures and subtle high-frequency details rendered with exceptional clarity and refinement. The planar drivers handle the complex treble information without any harshness, maintaining the track’s ethereal quality while revealing every nuance.

The treble extension is excellent, providing air and sparkle to the presentation while avoiding the peaks that can make extended listening uncomfortable. This is another area where the P50’s tuning refinement becomes apparent.

Soundstage & Imaging

The open-backed faceplates contribute to an impressive feeling of soundstage presentation that extends well beyond the typical IEM limitations. The imaging is precise and three-dimensional, with excellent instrument separation and spatial positioning.

Perfume Genius’ “Just Like Love” reveals the P50’s exceptional spatial capabilities, with the binaural recording’s intimate whispers and ambient textures positioned with remarkable precision around the listener. The track’s three-dimensional soundscape is rendered with stunning realism, showcasing the P50’s ability to create an immersive, almost holographic presentation.

The soundstage width and depth are particularly impressive, creating an immersive listening experience that is possibly the best I have heard in IEM’s in this price range. The precise imaging makes the P50 excellent for both critical listening and casual enjoyment.

Technical Specifications

The EPZ P50 packs impressive technical specifications into its compact form:

The hybrid driver configuration represents a sophisticated approach to IEM design, with each driver type handling its optimal frequency range with a well-controlled cross-over implementation. The planar drivers contribute to the exceptional detail retrieval and speed, while the balanced armatures handle the critical midrange frequencies with precision. The dynamic driver provides the foundation with a controlled though impactful bass response.

Measurements and Technical Analysis

These measurements were taken with my 711 clone couplers and are available on my measurement DB here

Frequency Response

The P50 demonstrates excellent channel matching, which is crucial for proper stereo imaging:

The frequency response shows the refined “new meta” tuning approach mixing a JM-1 with a nice bass tuck that you see in harman tunings, this for me gives the P50 the best of both targets:

EPZ P50 vs. Other “New Meta” IEMs

Compared to other IEMs following the “new meta” tuning philosophy, the P50 stands out for its more refined
bass implementation. When compared with the Kiwiears KE4 for example, the P50 shows more controlled bass response:

Also, I feel the P50 does not sacrifice comfort for technical performance, but the P50 manages to excel in both areas.

EPZ P50 vs. CrinEar Daybreak

The comparison with the CrinEar Daybreak is particularly relevant given their similar driver configurations and tuning approaches:

This comparison reveals that both IEMs are excellently tuned, the Daybreak has slightly more subbass and a little less treble, but these differences are very subtle, so which is better probably comes down to the comfort and build quality at a competitive price point.

Both IEMs feature hybrid designs with similar frequency response curves, but for me, I think the P50 offers a few advantages:

• Comfort: The P50’s smaller, more ergonomic shells provide superior long-term comfort
• Build Quality: The metal construction and premium cable feel more substantial
• Tuning Refinement: The P50’s implementation has slightly less bass which is arguable better treble

But the Daybreak is slightly less expensive, and possibly that extra subbass will appeal to you. The bottom line is both are superb IEM’s, I just feel with the extra hype around the Daybreak at the moment the P50 still deserves some attention.

Rating

The EPZ P50 earns a 5-star Pragmatic Rating due to its exceptional clean implementation of the “new meta” tuning, outstanding comfort, premium build quality, and competitive pricing at $200.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Build Quality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Premium metal construction with excellent attention to detail)
• Sound Quality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Outstanding “new meta” tuning with excellent technical performance)
• Features: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Sophisticated hybrid driver configuration with premium accessories)
• Measurements: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Excellent frequency response and channel matching)
• Value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Competitive pricing for the performance level, though not as budget-friendly)

Conclusion

The EPZ P50 represents one of the best examples of modern IEM design and build quality available today. After a month of listening, it’s clear that this is an great product that deserves recognition as one of the best IEMs released this year.

At $200, the P50 represents good value in the premium IEM market. While it’s not cheap, the level of performance, build quality, and comfort justify the investment for anyone serious about their portable audio experience.

The P50 proves that when “new meta” tuning is implemented correctly, the results can be truly exceptional. This is an IEM that deserves serious consideration from anyone looking for the best in modern IEM technology, and it earns my recommendation as one of the standout IEM of the year.