Gorgeous and sweet, this is the way Queen of Audio (QoA) portrays the Pink Lady to the audiophile community, winning many hearts.
Pros:
- »Good resolution across the frequency spectrum
- »Well extended highs
- »Sweet female vocals
- »Rumbles in the sub-bass
- »High-quality stock cable
- »Semi-custom shell aces the fitting and isolation
Cons:
- »Recessed in lower mids
- »Not suitable for male vocals
Introduction
Queen of Audio (QoA) could be unknown to a lot of audiophiles, being a relatively new brand to the audio industry. However, QoA is actually a spin-off company from Kinera Audio, which is definitely no stranger to the audiophile community.
Steve, who founded Kinera Audio, provides his expertise to enrich QoA’s goal of designing excellent products.
Bringing the knowledge and experience from Kinera Audio, QoA has had a great push from the beginning. This is important, especially nowadays where competition is strong in the headphone industry. Without further delay, let’s explore these gorgeous IEMs!
Unboxing
The Pink Lady comes in a classy black box, which is covered by a cardboard sleeve. It is printed with the brand and model name.
Opening the box, users find a round leather carrying case. Under the leather carrying case, we find the user manual.
Opening the case, The Pink Lady with its accessories make a first appearance to the user. The following accessories are included:
- 0.78mm 2-pin 3.5mm unbalanced 8-core braided cable
- 6 pairs of silicone ear tips
- 1 pair of foam ear tips
Technical Specification
- Driver Configuration: 2 BA Drivers + 1 Dynamic Driver (Hybrid Driver Configuration)
- Impedance: 17ohms
- Sensitivity: 112±2db
- Rated power: 3mW
- Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Connector Type: 0.78mm non-recessed 2-pin
- Cable: 0.78mm 2-pin 3.5mm unbalanced 8-core braided cable
Build
The shell of the Pink Lady is made of acrylic and has a semi-custom shape. It is well-polished; I don’t find any roughness on it. On the faceplate, there is a gold QoA logo. There are 2 color options, black and purple. I got my model of the IEMs in black. There is a gold QoA logo on the faceplate, which matches the black shell nicely.
Moving to the top of the shell, we find the non-recessed 2-pin sockets. The diameter is 0.78mm, which is a standard pin that can be found anywhere on the market. The cable rolls up without any difficulties.
The nozzle is in one piece with the shell. There are no lips to hold on the ear tips; They are even occasionally left in my ears when I take out the headphones. The nozzle is relatively wide. Users should choose ear tips with wider bore when buying extras for the Pink Lady. However, do note that different ear tips will result in a different sound signature. Always study before purchasing.
The cable included with the IEMs is a 0.78mm 2-pin 3.5mm unbalanced 8-core braided model. The outer layer of the cable is protected by a layer of black polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This enhances the cable’s durability. The cable is soft and supple. I do not hear any serious microphonics when I am using the cable “on the go”.
Fit and Isolation
Using a semi-custom shell, the Pink Lady IEMs rest in my ears nicely. I do not feel any fatigue after long listening. This could be one of the most comfortable IEMs I have in my entire collection. The shell is medium-sized. I believe most audiophiles won’t have a problem getting a good fit with the Pink Lady.
The isolation is acceptable to the point where I’m able to use the Pink Lady on my commute. It can block out most surrounding noises. This allows me to submerge myself into my music, taking me away from the overwhelming city temporarily. Although there is a vent at the rear of the shell to mitigate any driver flex issues, the isolation is not compromised.
Pairing and Drivability
Rated at 17 ohms for impedance and 112 dB for sensitivity, the Pink Lady can be easily driven by smartphones or tablets. I did several pairings during my review period, and I noticed that the dynamic drivers in the IEMs perform better when more power is available.
For this review, I paired the Pink Lady with the iBasso DX220 (and the Amp I MKII) which has been loaned to me from Zeppelin and Co. This powerful digital audio player (DAP) unleashes the full potential of the IEMs.
Sound
In the shell, there is a dynamic driver for lows coupled with 2 balanced armature (BA) drivers for mids and highs. The overall sound signature for QoA could be described as neutral with mild emphasis on the lows and highs, resulting in a slight V-shape performance.
Moving onto the soundstage. with great performance from the dynamic driver, it has the potential to extend deep. The overall soundstage is above average quality, extending more vertically than horizontally. This results in an oval-shaped headroom.
The detail separation is decent; I do not find congestion in any tracks while listening. Instruments and vocals are positioned accurately and portrayed precisely. The Pink Lady can handle complicated and fast tracks well.
Lows
The lows of the Pink Lady extend deep; it rumbles in the sub-bass and maintains excellent control when moving to the mid-bass. The speed is average. The bass has some warmth and sounds full bodied. These two factors yield a natural sound that doesn’t come close to being analytical.
The sub-bass rumbles well. I tested the sub-bass’ performance with Send My Love by Adele (The intro is basically made of sub-bass.) A good IEM with substantial sub-bass performance can introduce a track well. I like how deep these IEMs can dive, too. The powerful sub-bass definitely grabs your attention.
Although providing plenty of power, the sub-bass is well controlled. In I Miss You by Adele, the chorus (around 2:00 of the track) is presented amazingly. The sub-bass presence does not overshadow Adele’s vocals. The layering is done pretty well, with the sub-bass taking a lower spot on the soundstage. Adele’s voice definitely isn’t pulled down by it.
The mid-bass is not as concentrated as the sub-bass, but prepares the transition to the mids appropriately. It seems less prominent, yet doesn’t lack in quality. Instruments like a jazz trumpet or jazz drums are resolved smoothly. This makes the Pink Lady an all-rounder for use with different genres.
Mids
The mids of the Pink Lady are airy and spacious. The lower-mids are slightly recessed due to the transition from a shy mid-bass. Moving toward the higher-mids, positioning is more forward and prominent. This yields an amazing separation between instruments and vocals, especially for females.
Listening to Remedy by Adele, the piano sounds excellent in the background while Adele’s singing is layered on top of the performance. I tested this again with Fly Me To The Moon by Olivia Ong.her soft vocals can be delivered without any intrusive influence from other instruments.
The name “Pink Lady” could have been given due to the IEMs capability of delivering amazing female vocals.
For male vocals, the sound signature is slightly recessed. Listening to Seasons In The Sun by Westlife, the vocals are positioned slightly backward, almost in the same spot as the instruments. This could cause defocus when moving into the chorus. I definitely prefer female vocals over male vocals while using these headphones.
Highs
The highs have a brighter profile. They extend well and sparkle; similar to the mids, they have an airy and spacious signature. The resolution of the Pink Lady is outstanding due to this profile. It should bring out the details and resolution in most genres sufficiently.
Listening to Begin Again by the piano guys, the violin plays smooth and gently in unison with the piano. At around 3:30 on the track, all of the instruments are playing together, and everyone is taking their spots appropriately. No congestion or distortion. This is the result of quality performance in the highs.
When listening to Jazz, the drum symbols are smooth. It is non-fatiguing and gentle on the eardrums. I can listen to Miles Davis Kind of Blue album with the Pink Lady on and the comfort level remains consistent.
It is resolving and sufficiently bright, yet not fatiguing. Amazing.
Conclusion
The QoA Pink Lady is a great choice for entry level audiophiles who are looking for a pair of multi-driver IEMs in the price range of USD$150. QoA’s ability to use every aspect of the frequency spectrum accurately makes it one of the most competitive options within the price range.
Compared to other Chi-Fi brands such as Knowledge-Zenith (KZ), the price is steeper. However, the classy semi-custom build and outstanding sonic performance make it a winner in the long run.
The Pink Lady retails for USD$119 and can be purchased on Queen of Audio’s Official Facebook Page. There are two color choices:
- Purple
- Black
Addiction may result when using the Pink Lady. I am now reliant on its comfortable fit and sweet sound quality.
Teo Yong Shun
A chemical engineer by training and an audiophile with years of experience in audio industry as an audio consultant in one of the major Hi-Fi shops in Singapore. Appreciating good music is my daily task and I love to share the greatness with the community. Love what you listen to, with what you have, where you are. Founder of The Audiolocheese.
