Queen Of Audio Pink Lady Review

December 26, 2022 4:35 pm

Recently, Queen of Audio released the Gimlet. It is one of their most inexpensive IEMs to date, costing only $59. Aside from the Vesper which is only ten dollars up, what would be the next significant upgrade in QoA’s library? Their Pink Lady model would have to be the answer, coming in for an asking price of $119. It breaks that hundred-dollar mark, but not by a lot, so it might still be considered budget-fi. The Pink Lady has eluded me up until now, so I’m excited to test it out and see if it would make a solid pick for those looking for an entry-level IEM.

What You Get

One pair of QOA Pink Lady IEM
One 8-Core Hybrid Cable with 3.5mm Termination Plug
Three Pairs of Black Silicone Ear tips
Three Pairs of White Silicone Ear tips
One Pair of Foam tips
One Zipper Carry Case
User Guide
Copper+SPC Cable with 0.78mm Two-pin interface and 3.5mm termination plug
Triple Driver Hybrid setups, having one 10mm DD and Dual BA driver unit

Look and Feel

With QoA, you never have to worry about a bland design. Their IEMs always have a certain theme they try to nail down, and while the Pink Lady has a stylish look, it’s actually one of the least flashy earphones from the brand. It features a few different hues in an aesthetically appealing pattern, with a clear ear cavity that reveals the inner mechanisms of its driver. The Pink Lady still has a cool factor to its design, while also being QoA’s most simplistic shell yet. Its body is also different from most other earphones from this brand. Its nozzle is shorter and its bottom lobe is thinner. This makes for a bigger earpiece on the surface, but when worn, the Pink Lady feels lighter and it sits more naturally in your concha.

Design

For its driver set-up, the Pink Lady operates a triple hybrid construction. It utilizes a 10mm dynamic driver with dual-balanced armatures. The dynamic unit is used to distribute low-end frequencies, while the BAs mainly provide midrange and high-end signal. A low, 16 Ohm impedance makes the Pink Lady easy to drive from any 3.5mm headphone jack. Whether it’s from a small amp or laptop headphone slot, the Pink Lady will deliver plenty of volume to your tracks.

Soundstage

In terms of width and height, the Pink Lady is better than what the price infers. However, what is really going to impress you is its inward imaging. Spatially, the Pink Lady feels like a bubble, where instruments, effects, and vocals layer on top of each other articulately. This creates an open space while maintaining a close, inside-the-head display. It immerses you by wrapping the sound elements around you and maintaining good distance and separation between each performance. While its depth is beyond admirable for its price, it’s far from an accurate picture of the mix. It’s fun to listen to how deep these IEMs can go, especially with music that compliments this style of spatial imaging. Anything ambient like Darkwave or Dreampop tracks will benefit from the Pink Lady’s ethereal spaciousness. However, Jazz, Prog-rock, and Orchestral tracks might not feel as organized.

Low End

There is much to be impressed with in the lows considering the price. While it might not be the most refreshing tone, the bass still operates with a satisfying motion. Its resonance is able to dwell deep, giving the bass frequencies a collective pool of texture to enjoy. A smooth layer of rumble helps lift the timbre up into a satisfying showcase of sound, just don’t expect any major punch from it. This is a bass response that takes its time significantly. Vibrations are smooth and form a solid body, but slam and impact are minimal.

Mids

In a sense, there isn’t anything the midrange does wrong here, but it still might not be the response you might be looking for. To me, the mids feel a bit too reserved. However, their display still feels natural and layered. I never felt like the sound elements were never in place, as everything sat in the mix correctly. Everything falls into place, but I don’t find many instruments all that expressive, except for vocals which actually have very nice transparency. At its best, the Pink Lady can exhibit some strong intimate qualities within its midrange. It takes the considerable resonance from the bass and organizes it to form a warmer timbre that benefits many different instruments in an enticing way.

Highs

The treble regions keep things relatively simple. Like the mids, the highs aren’t provided with the most gripping drive, but the region still showcases some satisfying texture. While not the most detailed, or biting frequencies, the region is both smooth and heightened. You get some sweet dissipating tones coming off of instruments at the top end of the spectrum, and it does so without calling much attention to itself. It never quite sizzles, but it can get close depending on the track. Female vocals that occur in the upper registers can have some underlining flavor to them, but it isn’t very consistent.

Summary

I enjoyed the Pink Lady more than I thought I would. The Vesper and Gimlet are strong entry-level IEMs, but the Pink Lady definitely shouldn’t be forgotten about, especially if you’re willing a spend a bit of extra money. Its soundstage sold me the most, with its strong layering and dimensional sound placement. The overall appearance of the sound signature is quite unique for the price, so I think it is a worthy pick for those looking for a simple but quality set of IEMs.