Big thank you to EKSA for sending the E5 BT to review!
Full disclosure: This is a paid review but I made it clear to them that I do not guarantee positive reviews or recommendations – I make in-depth, honest evaluations based on my impressions and the ultimate value that the product may or may not provide.
Greetings mate and Welcome aboard!
Stuart Charles here, HomeStudioBasics.com helping YOU make sound decisions, so…
Let’s review EKSA’s E5 Bluetooth headphones and find out if they’re worth a purchase.
We’ll discuss build, comfort, sound, mic quality, and more.
By the time you’re finished reading this article, you’ll know if they’re right for you. If they aren’t, I’ll point you in the direction of something that is.
Deal?
Cool.
Let’s dive in!
All specs, pricing, and box contents towards the end.
Build
Kicking things off, the E5 BT is a rather light headphone that feels pretty cheap. It’s made almost entirely of plastic but contains metal adjustments for the headband, which, by this point, is rather standard in consumer-level products.
The built-in mic can be moved out of the way and rotates 120° up and down very freely, while the faux leather encasing the memory foam cups feels nice and soft.
This type of padding also cracks and/or peels over time, but I can’t say one way or another whether that will happen here. I will update the article accordingly as the headphones get more mileage.
There are large, hollow block R and L letters inside the cups, which is a nice added touch as it allows you to quickly and easily get them on your head without hunting for tiny indicators.
The left ear cup houses all of your buttons, switches, and knobs: the 2.4G switch, Power on/off button, mic on/off button, volume dial, USB-C charging jack, and Bluetooth LED round out the configuration, and the overall aesthetic is pretty “gamey” (in other words, fairly gimmicky but not over the top).
It’s fairly utilitarian and simple, with just enough padding on the headband and cups; ones that mimic the shape of your ears. That said, you’ll certainly feel them touching, as they’re fairly elongated but don’t have much width.
Comfort
While we’re dancing around the subject, comfort is fine but you’ll probably be adjusting these over time. They clamp fairly snugly and feel nice, but they’ll prove a bit tight in the midst of a fight.
Cup depth is rather shallow as well, and all of these things combined, based on my experience, will prove cumbersome though I’m not docking too many points here.
Overall, build and comfort seems perfectly satisfactory but not extraordinary.
Sound
- Games/Shows: Uncharted 3, My Paranormal Nightmare, more soon.
- DACs Used: Creative SoundBlaster G8, Fosi Audio K7
- Source(s): Spotify, PS4, FLAC
The headphones can be used wired or wirelessly with the provided combo USB-C/USB-A Adapter which I thought was a nice touch and a nifty design.
That said, sound is where the issue lies, as the E5 BT’s bass tends to get in the way of the sound signature.
It’s a shame because the mid-range is decently clear and accurate sounding without the low-end reproduction, but when bass lines come in, you’ll notice a mud factor that’s hard to reconcile.
On “Better Still“ from St. South, the bass almost completely negates her wonderful voice and it sounds like she’s drowning in a sea of warm poop.
Treble isn’t sibilant, but it lacks sparkle and is again overshadowed by the bloomy, exaggerated bass which clearly tries to be front and center.
This is an issue in the majority of consumer products (gaming or otherwise), and the E5 unfortunately follows suit.
Another issue, and one that I was fairly disappointed by, is Soundstage. These sound almost completely closed in and lack pretty much everything that makes a gaming experience fun. They’re boxy, narrow, and fail to provide the good imaging inherent in quality headphones.
Because of this, directional cues aren’t great either, and as far as I’m concerned, that’s a non-negotiable factor in whether or not I ultimately decide to take the plunge and buy a gaming headset.
Overall timbre is poor as well. There’s no realism to music, voices, or environmental sounds, leading to an absence of immersion and intimacy within the experience; one that’s supposed to transport you into the landscape but fails to do so.
Everything sounds dull and meh, with non-existent resolution and poor dynamics.
Mic Quality
Mic quality is acceptable, but nothing to write home about. Still, it does the job just fine for its purposes.
You decide:
Final Verdict
As you can probably gather from this ho-hum review, the E5 was one of the most underwhelming experiences I’ve ever had reviewing gaming headsets and headphones in general. It’s like when your dad tells you he’s disappointed in you. Not mad, disappointed.
And that’s never good. If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’ll know how incredibly passionate and heated I can get about headphones; especially bass, and how it’s supposed to be tuned.
By this point, I’m jaded beyond belief, but I’m also numb.
So instead of a long diatribe, just don’t buy them.
Buy something else. The EKSA’s E5000 is a good gaming headset, but the E5 was a major disappointment.
EKSA E5 BT
Price: Check Amazon
In The Box
1x EKSA E5 BT Wireless Headset
1x ESKA USB-A & Type-C Adapter
1x Type-C Charging Cable
1x 3.5mm Audio Cable
1x Quick Start Guide
1x User Manual
Specifications
- Support: PS5, PS4, Mac, PC, Phone, Switch.
- Speaker Size: 50mm
- Speaker Impedance: 20Ω
- Frequency Response: 20hz-20kHz
- Sensitivity: 113dB
- Link Distance: 15m
- Microphone Type: Condenser
- Microphone Pickup Pattern: Omnidirectional
- Microphone Sensitivity: -42dB ± 3dB
- Microphone Impedance: 2.2kΩ
- Bluetooth Playback Time: 52h
- 2.4G Playback Time: 35h
- Charging Time: About 3h
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this EKSA E5 BT Review and came away with some valuable insight.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!
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Is this product worth an investment? I would love to hear from you. Until next time…
All the best and God bless,
-Stu