1More Penta Driver P50 Review – One Giant Leap

Pros –

Excellent design and ergonomics, Outstanding bass texture, Great lower-treble detail retrieval, Natural smooth and coherent voicing

Cons –

No hard case, Terrible cable and ear tips, May be too laid-back in the midrange for some, Imaging could be better

Verdict –

The P50 receives limited recommendation for those preferring a smooth and relaxed sound with standout bass texturing and treble crispness.

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Introduction –

1More started as a subsidiary of sorts for Xiaomi but has since become its own entity. Since then, the company has produced some excellent offerings, initially drawing attention with the triple-driver which was their do-it-all budget hybrid IEM. The line-up has since expanded with new wireless and higher-end designs. The P50 is the latest addition and represents the first new audiophile-focused in-ear monitor since the quad driver that launched 5 years ago. The P50 was initially set to be released back in 2018 but has been continually reworked over the subsequent years. As always, it has been tuned by Grammy-award-winning Luca Bignardi and contains a 5-driver setup as the name suggests. What may pique your interest is the mention of quad-exclusive planar driver arrays gracing each earpiece which promise excellent extension and resolving power. I haven’t personally seen an IEM with such an ambitious tweeter array and was excited to see what the company had been cooking up for the last 5 years.

The Penta Driver P50 is available for $169.90 USD. You can read all about it and treat yourself to a unit on 1More’s website here.

Disclaimer –

I would like to thank 1More very much for reaching out to organise a review of the P50. All words are my own and there is no monetary incentive for a positive review.

Contents –

• Page 1: Intro, Unboxing & Design
• Page 2: Sound Breakdown
• Page 3: Comparisons & Verdict

Specifications –

• Drivers: Single DLC dynamic driver, Quad planar tweeters
• Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 40 kHz
• Impedance: 32 Ohms
• Sensitivity: 105 dB

Behind the Design –

DLC Dynamic Driver

Covering the low-end and midrange is a single diamond-like carbon dynamic driver that promises an excellent transient response and dynamics. The DLC diaphragm design is extremely rigid which should help to reduce modal breakup, thereby minimizing distortion. I’ve heard numerous implementations over the years and have always enjoyed the sound they have been able to produce even if some are better than others.

Quad Exclusive Planar Units

Though the diagrams available online do seem to resemble balanced armature drivers, press material has confirmed to me that the P50 uses two pairs of planar tweeters on each side. They sport a dual magnet design and nozzles-less output bore for reduced reflections. Planar drivers create a more uniform motor force over the diaphragm and therefore, are able to produce high frequencies with less distortion making them a great choice for tweeter drivers.

Unboxing –

The P50 comes in a nice hard box with attractive print. The box has a magnetic lid that opens to reveal the earphones within a foam inlet and the interior is decorated with vectors of the earphone features. Below the earphones are the remaining accessories. There’s a huge selection of ear tips with 4 pairs of silicone tips with inbuilt wax guards and 4 pairs of memory foam tips. 1More has considerately included a Type-C dongle in addition to a soft pouch with a faux carbon-fibre texture. Unfortunately, no hard case is included which would have been a nice addition. One thing I have to note is that the silicone tips are absolutely awful. They are extremely soft and flimsy meaning they are prone to collapsing when placed in the ear. I’m not sure what possessed 1More to include such thin tips with the P50 though replacements are easy to find.

Design –

1More has created an attractive and stylish shell that is very reminiscent of the EVO TWS in-ear we reviewed recently. Compared to the Triple and Quad Driver IEMs from the company, the P50 offers a more ergonomic over-ear design. Though sacrificing an all-metal construction, the outer shell remains glass and aluminium, maintaining a quality look and feel. The inner face is plastic though with a premium-feeling soft touch finish. The design is certainly more svelte and minimalist with oval features and a comfortable rounded profile. Glass faceplates with gold fleck and 1More logos provide a more luxurious impression.

MMCX connectors grace each earpiece enabling easy cable swapping, upgrading and replacement. The connectors are clicky and offer even tension. As opposed to early implementations, I didn’t experience any issues with cutouts during my testing. The cable itself represents poor quality. It has a tacky plasticky and springy jacket that tangles easily and is difficult to untangle. It is too springy to remain coiled for storage making it a constant source of annoyance. The connectors are slim and the pre-molded ear guides are appropriately shaped, aiding comfort and stability further. The cable also sports a 3-button remote with mic that smartphone users will enjoy.

Fit & Comfort –

Despite the sophisticated quintuple driver configuration inside, 1More has managed to uphold an extremely compact chassis. With rounded features and a soft touch finish, hotspots were a non-issue for me and the P50 will suit those with smaller-than-average ears too. The elongated and well-positioned nozzles aid this impression. They help to position the bulk of the housings neutrally within the outer ear and improve fit stability.

With the right ear tips, the P50 provides an excellent locked-in sensation with a perfect seal and excellent fit stability. Passive noise isolation performs at a good level. They are vented but due to the excellent fit and seal, still isolate noticeably better than your average hybrid. These are easily suitable for public transport and do an excellent job at blocking noise when paired with a foam ear tip albeit at the expense of convenience.

Next Page: Sound Breakdown