Ucotech from Korea is a rarely seen or heard from portable audio company worldwide but they are an enthusiastic boutique producing mainly earphones and earbuds. They have been grassroots since all the way back to 2007 and are a well respected company known for their attention to details on their product. Previously we had the chance to review the RE1 and RE2 and honestly we were quite impressed with the sound quality that it produced along with a well designed product that I felt was an underdog in the scene. Recently they have been rather active in the flathead or earbuds and the flagship ES-P3 caught my eye as it brings back memories of the golden days of earbuds with the dual bass pipes made famous by Aiwa in the 90’s. I have reached out to them and they have gladly provided us with a pair of these beauties for a tour as well as an in depth review and we couldn’t be more grateful for this opportunity.
As for the tour, a few interests participants have tested and they are thoroughly impressed by these ES-P3 routing them as probably the best flat earbuds money can buy. I will share the link of the impressions at our Facebook group.
Functions & Specifications
Before we start the review, here are the specifications of the Ucotech ES-P3;
● Model: ES-P3
● Cavity Material: Full Metal Steel
● Drivers: 15.4mm Dynamic Drivers
● Diaphragm: Double-Dome Diaphragm
● Cable Info: OCC 6N 4 core Silver-Plated
● Cable Plug: 4.4mm Balanced Ended
● Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
● Impedance: 165Ω±15% (@1kHz)
● Sensitivity: 100dB/mW (@1kHz)
The Ucotech ES-P3 can be purchased directly at the Ucotech Korea alongside some platforms like Amazon and many more.
https://www.ucotechlab.com/product/ESP3
P/S: this review is solely done from a flathead earbuds point of view.
Packaging & Accessories
The packaging here is a rather large rectangular box that looks professional with a simple yet premium flare. Inside we find another black box encasing the earbuds underneath and all the accessories that come with it. It is packed truly generously with 4 pairs of foams (2 donuts, 2 full foam), 6 pairs of rubber U shaped fins in various sizes 4 pairs of rubber rings, a high quality 4.4mm to 3.5mm converter named Spear, a large rectangle fabric hard case, a thick premium 4 core OCC cable, some paperworks and the masterpiece of the earbuds itself. Seriously well packaged that oozes a flagship aura and the best flat earbuds packaging I have encountered.
Design
The design here has the style of Ucotech with screws on the faceplate and it is without a doubt beautiful with their CNC anodized aluminum alloy body and shiny stainless steel front with precision hole that disperse the sound evenly along with producing a more natural treble for their metal properties. The ES-P3 is an all metal build and they are robust. The innovative U-Turbo bass tube tubes are displayed at the sides and they do give a steampunk look to the overall earbuds. The attention to details here is exquisite and they are solidly built with an original design.
The stem of the body is rather long as it includes the MMCX connectors as well but it has a good fit and for those who can’t get a good fit or want to use the ES-P3 for outdoors, they can opt for the included unique U shaped fins to get a more sturdy fit.
The ES-P3 is a very well vented earbud and it doesn’t have major isolation which is usual for an earbud of this type. There is a long vent at the top, behind the front output and a pinhole vent at the faceplate which is the output of the U-Turbo bass tubes. The bass tube was made famous by Aiwa in the 90s and they have changed the game by implementing a design that increases depth and extends the overall bass performance. This design doesn’t really add the bass amount but instead increases the air and extension. The tube has a total length around 3 to 4 cm and the air exits through the faceplate.
At the heart of the ES-P3 is a single dynamic driver with a large 15.4mm dynamic driver with a double dome diaphragm made from PEEK + PU custom made in-house by their main earbuds engineer, Mr. Joo. A lot of technology and attention to details has been put in creating these dynamic drivers like a unique dual dome processing, special driver bonding, custom made yokes, strong custom made n52 magnets and many more.
The ES-P3 is assembled by hand in Korea with strict procedures to ensure a high standard of products as shown in the video below showcasing the laborious steps taken to produce this ES-P3.
The cable is another attraction of the ES-P3 where it is made with 4 cores of OCC copper with all metals parts like the Y splitter and plugs are made from metal. The cable does feel heavy and thick but they are pliable with a soft feel on them. The weight of this cable actually does pull the earbuds down when it’s being used outdoors but a shirt clip will mitigate the problem or just simply change to a slimmer, lighter cable as the cable is removable.
Gears Used for Comparisons
Fiio Q7
Qudelix T71
Hiby FC6
FiiO BTR7
Intime Sho DD
Letshuoer S15
Imperial Audio Titan
Blur DaBass
Toneking TO600s
Hiby Lasya
Rose Technics Maria 2
Moondrop Chaconne
Dunu EST112
Truthear Zero RED
Songs list
Tone and Presentation
The tone of the Ucotech ES-P3 has a neutral overall sound with a mild mid centric presentation with a rather superb warmish tone that is both lush and accurate. It has a superb mix of being highly technical with a superb musicality worthy of a flagship earbud and might be the most technical ones I have tried so far. It has amazing details retrieval capabilities with a clean and clear sound across the whole frequencies. Dynamic range is wide and they have a thick and rich sound especially on the midrange. There is a very mild coloration present here but still capable of being transparent in their sound delivery.
Soundstage
The soundstage here is as expected from open flathead earbuds, exceptional and even from an earbuds stand point, it is simply huge. It has expansive, airy staging capabilities that has great width and height that reaches pretty far almost to the point of closed back headphones. It also possesses a holographic soundstage with great accuracy and it makes live performances shine. It’s isolation isn’t good for gaming but it has good immersiveness for movies.
Separation and Timbre
Separation is superb and they are one the main strengths here on this ES-P3. The drivers matching is great and they are well balanced from left to right without any crosstalk issues. Dynamic range here is great with well extended lows and high range without any gaps present typical of a well tuned single dynamic driver. Timbre here is breathy, organic and natural with a slightly piercy sound to give some bite or energy into their overall presentation. The ES-P3 is tuned more towards a brighter side of the spectrum and that gives a superb clarity in music but isn’t for those who want a deeper low range.
Drivability
Rated at around 165 ohms at 100 dB sensitivity, the ES-P3 isn’t easily driven from any source and they are not as sensitive in picking up noise so they do match a high impedance output and some power is needed for them to perform to the maximum. In terms of loudness, a good dongle with dedicated DAC chip may provide ample loudness but they do not do the ES-P3 justice as they scale very well with good sources. I do find they have easy source matching for their neutral sound and works well even for tube amplifiers. As for file selection, they are a transparent type of earbuds but they are not as revealing and they do not show minor flaws that are present on bad recordings.
The Bass (Low)
The bass here for an earbud is actually adequate with a neutral sound that has some mid-bass lift with a rather lean sub-bass. The bass here has a tight impact with a good extension that gives an airy presentation. They aren’t bass cannon earbuds and will not suit bass heads that want a stronger impact but they are just adequate for a pure bass listening without sounding too hollow. Details here are good with great clarity and they do not sound muddy nor have any bleed present in their overall presentation. Sub-bass amount is actually quite average even from an earbuds point of view but they aren’t muted, instead, they provide a deep sub-bass reach with a natural rumble. The turbo tubes do give the mid bass some richness and thickness for a lusher sound but do not give any major changes in their amount. Resolution here is actually great with a superb textured bass that shows layers in the bass frequencies clean and clear.
The Mids
Midrange here is a neutral sound that has a slightly forward sound with a warm tone and they do lean towards the higher region of the high range giving them a slightly bright sound signature. The mids here have a mild thickness producing an intimate sound that matches the open soundstage well without sounding too pushed back and thin. Needless to say, the midrange here is spacious with an accurate placement of sound and a wide range. Details here are excellent with macro and micro details well presented with a full sound without any gaps in all the midrange frequency. The upper midrange here has a good amount of brilliance that gives vocals a sweet, lively sound without any harshness or peaks and they are very well controlled. There is some coloration present here but they are minimal and don’t really mess with the naturalness of the music but not for those who seek a sterile, clinical style of sound.
The Highs
High range here is where I find the ES-P3 performs as they are a true neutral high range that is very well balanced albeit has some boost to them. They are a clean, clear high range with exceptional details and clarity with a natural amount of sparkle and they are very crisp in their decay producing a smooth, exciting high range without any harshness or peaks present. The highs here have a slow roll off that gives them an extended, airy high range with some authority suiting for treble heads. The high range here is highly resolving with a vivid sound blending well with the midrange and having a good transparent sound that doesn’t possess any metallic sheen. Treble here is on the higher intensity side and it does produce a brighter sound that is exciting and isn’t a laid-back style of sound. They have great treble extension with a good amount of energy here that gives an energetic and lively presentation.Tone and Presentation
The tone of the Ucotech ES-P3 has a neutral overall sound with a mild mid centric presentation with a rather superb warmish tone that is both lush and accurate. It has a superb mix of being highly technical with a superb musicality worthy of a flagship earbud and might be the most technical ones I have tried so far. It has amazing details retrieval capabilities with a clean and clear sound across the whole frequencies. Dynamic range is wide and they have a thick and rich sound especially on the midrange. There is a very mild coloration present here but still capable of being transparent in their sound delivery.
Soundstage
The soundstage here is as expected from open flathead earbuds, exceptional and even from an earbuds stand point, it is simply huge. It has expansive, airy staging capabilities that has great width and height that reaches pretty far almost to the point of closed back headphones. It also possesses a holographic soundstage with great accuracy and it makes live performances shine. It’s isolation isn’t good for gaming but it has good immersiveness for movies.
Separation and Timbre
Separation is superb and they are one the main strengths here on this ES-P3. The drivers matching is great and they are well balanced from left to right without any crosstalk issues. Dynamic range here is great with well extended lows and high range without any gaps present typical of a well tuned single dynamic driver. Timbre here is breathy, organic and natural with a slightly piercy sound to give some bite or energy into their overall presentation. The ES-P3 is tuned more towards a brighter side of the spectrum and that gives a superb clarity in music but isn’t for those who want a deeper low range.
Drivability
Rated at around 165 ohms at 100 dB sensitivity, the ES-P3 isn’t easily driven from any source and they are not as sensitive in picking up noise so they do match a high impedance output and some power is needed for them to perform to the maximum. In terms of loudness, a good dongle with dedicated DAC chip may provide ample loudness but they do not do the ES-P3 justice as they scale very well with good sources. I do find they have easy source matching for their neutral sound and works well even for tube amplifiers. As for file selection, they are a transparent type of earbuds but they are not as revealing and they do not show minor flaws that are present on bad recordings.
The Bass (Low)
The bass here for an earbud is actually adequate with a neutral sound that has some mid-bass lift with a rather lean sub-bass. The bass here has a tight impact with a good extension that gives an airy presentation. They aren’t bass cannon earbuds and will not suit bass heads that want a stronger impact but they are just adequate for a pure bass listening without sounding too hollow. Details here are good with great clarity and they do not sound muddy nor have any bleed present in their overall presentation. Sub-bass amount is actually quite average even from an earbuds point of view but they aren’t muted, instead, they provide a deep sub-bass reach with a natural rumble. The turbo tubes do give the mid bass some richness and thickness for a lusher sound but do not give any major changes in their amount. Resolution here is actually great with a superb textured bass that shows layers in the bass frequencies clean and clear.
The Mids
Midrange here is a neutral sound that has a slightly forward sound with a warm tone and they do lean towards the higher region of the high range giving them a slightly bright sound signature. The mids here have a mild thickness producing an intimate sound that matches the open soundstage well without sounding too pushed back and thin. Needless to say, the midrange here is spacious with an accurate placement of sound and a wide range. Details here are excellent with macro and micro details well presented with a full sound without any gaps in all the midrange frequency. The upper midrange here has a good amount of brilliance that gives vocals a sweet, lively sound without any harshness or peaks and they are very well controlled. There is some coloration present here but they are minimal and don’t really mess with the naturalness of the music but not for those who seek a sterile, clinical style of sound.
The Highs
High range here is where I find the ES-P3 performs as they are a true neutral high range that is very well balanced albeit has some boost to them. They are a clean, clear high range with exceptional details and clarity with a natural amount of sparkle and they are very crisp in their decay producing a smooth, exciting high range without any harshness or peaks present. The highs here have a slow roll off that gives them an extended, airy high range with some authority suiting for treble heads. The high range here is highly resolving with a vivid sound blending well with the midrange and having a good transparent sound that doesn’t possess any metallic sheen. Treble here is on the higher intensity side and it does produce a brighter sound that is exciting and isn’t a laid-back style of sound. They have great treble extension with a good amount of energy here that gives an energetic and lively presentation.
Comparison’s
VS Moondrop Chaconne
The Moondrop Chaconne that I have owned for years is one the best sounding earbuds that has accompanied me through the years. It has a similar price with the ES-P3 and a similar neutral sound as well but the build and the replaceable cable of the ES-P3 is a welcomed improvement. The unboxing of the ES-P3 is also more complete versus the more simple package of the Chaconne.
High range
Highs on both of these sets are similar with a true neutral high that is slightly strong that gives a bright sound signature. Details and clarity is on par with each other but the ES-P3 highs seems to sound a tad thicker and airer. The Chaconne highs do sound sweeter with a slightly stronger sparkle while the ES-P3 sounded crisper and with more extended highs. Treble on both are very similar to an extended treble that has a good intense sound.
Midrange
Chaconne midrange has a more balanced sound that is flatter versus the mid centric sound of the ES-P3. Details and clarity are similar while Chaconne is more transparent and the ES-P3 is more resolving. Chaconne does have an edge in vocals for being sweeter but for overall balanced vocals, the ES-P3 takes the cake for being thicker and lusher.
Bass
Bass is where the difference comes between both of these sets as the ES-P3 bass does sound more present with their mid bass lift impact and they do reach deeper than the rather flat neutral bass of the Chaconne. The Chaconne bass does sound a tad clearer but details on both are the same. Sub-bass on both is rather lean but the ES-P3 sub-bass does dive deeper marginally.
Soundstage
The soundstage is dead even on both with a huge soundstage that is airy, wide and tall.
VS Blur DaBass custom earbuds
If you are a hardcore earbuds lover, Blur from Singapore is one brand that you should know or have heard of. It is an earbud that is made on orders only and they are made by an experienced enthusiast. The set that I have on hand is the limited DaBass that has an extended bass response versus the usual lineup of Blur and they are limited to 20 sets only. It has a headphones sound and it projects sound rather out of the head which is impressive. It has an L shaped sound that leans towards the low end and they cost slightly cheaper than the ES-P3 but only comes in a case with a generic plastic MX500 shell and a fixed braided cable.
High region
The highs of the ES-P3 are more sparkly and sharper than the flat highs of the DaBass. Details and clarity seems to be better here on the ES-P3 With a crisper sound. DaBass high has smoother, leaner highs but they have a more forgiving smooth sound with no slouch in their sparkle. Treble on both are different with the intense ES-P3 and the laid-back DaBass.
Midrange
Midrange on both has a mid centric sound that possesses some forwardness in their presentation. Details and clarity does go to the ES-P3 with a cleaner and clearer sound. Resolution on both is similar but transparency does go to the ES-P3. DaBass does have a better body and they are thicker with a more intimate sound that suits male vocals better while the ES-P3 has a more all rounder style of vocal presentation. The upper midrange on the ES-P3 does shine better with their great brilliance that gives music some extra energy and liveliness.
Bass
The bass is where DaBass has the edge in terms of their amount and they are boosted versus the slightly lean neutral bass of the ES-P3. Details and clarity does go to the ES-P3 with a cleaner overall bass with better transparency. Sub-bass does go to the DaBass as they dive deeper with a stronger rumble.
Soundstage
Soundstage depth is similar but width and height does sound bigger on the ES-P3.
Synergy
Hiby FC6
Hiby FC6 is the scaled down version of Darwin R2R architecture that is Hiby’s creation packed in a portable audio dongle form. They have a smooth, analogue signature with a lush and organic sound while possessing great overall technicalities. They do match the neutral sound signature of the ES-P3 making them more full bodied with a thicker low end. The FC6 have only a 3.5mm single ended output but they do have adequate power for ES-P3 to have ample volume.
Bass has a more organic sound with slight increase in their density. The bass has better texture and has some extra mid bass lift that makes the overall bass more present. They do sound fuller and more energetic but they do lose out some minor details. Sub-bass do possess a deeper and stronger rumble but in a small margin.
Midrange sounds thicker and more organic that produces a more musical presentation. Vocals sound smoother on the upper mids and the mids have a more resolving sound. Male vocals now sounded deeper with more depth and some coloration was added for a lusher sound. Mids here have a more intimate sound that gives a more jovial sound signature but they do sound less spacious.
High range is slightly leaner and there is some decrease in their treble intensity while still retaining their lively sparkle and crispness. Details and clarity is better as they do add some extension and air here making the high range smoother overall. The high range also does sound a tad more resolving as the overall highs has a more vivid sound with a more layered sound audible.
Soundstage has mediocre width and height partly due to their thick sound signature but they do have an airier soundstage.
Qudelix T71
The Qudelix T71 is also a boutique company which is also from Korea and this matching is special as both of these audio products have the same goals of being a perfectionist producing high quality products and the T71 is no exception. It is a flagship portable DAC/amplifier that has a plethora of quirks like a full PEQ with custom tunings for hundreds of IEM, earbuds and headphones made by users all around the world. It has a specialized 7.1 surround sound output on their USB C output but only meant for their IEM. It has superb driving power and is adequate for most products in the market. The synergy here is actually very decent and no PEQ settings are needed for the ES-P3 to sound their best. The T71 is a Sabre based chipset tuning with exceptional clarity but they manage to tame the highs to sound silky smooth.
Bass has a cleaner sound that has a more balanced overall bass and they sounded fuller with a slower roll off that gives an extra airiness in the presentation. They have a deeper sub-bass extension with a stronger, faster rumble. Details and clarity had a slight increase and they sounded clean with no bloat. The overall bass does sound slightly stronger but the overall amount is still the same, only more refined.
Midrange has no changes in their thickness but it does have some forwardness making the midrange sound more intimate while having an increase in their vividness. The midrange also does sound more clinical, making them less warm but with a more forward sound. The upper midrange here does add some amount here giving a slightly brighter sound but still isn’t causing any fatigue.
Highs has the same amount of sparkle but has an airier extension along with a crisper sound. Details and clarity stayed the same but they do sound a little more refined due to their extension. Treble is the same but they do sound smoother especially with vocals.
Soundstage height and width is better with a wider, airier sound overall.
Who Is It For?
For flathead earbuds enthusiasts who want a no compromise design and sound that is worthy of a top of the line sound, the Ucotech ES-P3 is the one for you. It has a very well balanced neutral sound that has superb clarity with amazing details retrieval capabilities along with a lush sound that is suitable for vocals, instrumentals and many other genres. They aren’t a bass cannon for bassheads but the bass here is accurate and adequate for EDM, jazz and classicals as they extend well, deep reaching and deep with a decent impact. As an earbud who doesn’t isolate well, they aren’t suitable for noisy environments and gaming though doable but what you get in return is a huge, spacious soundstage that IEMs can’t reproduce and the ES-P3 excels in this department indeed.
Final words
Flatheadearbuds has seen a slow decline throughout the years and only some enthusiasts remain but in my opinion, they are making a slow comeback from newer releases such as the ES-P3. It really showcases the capabilities of a well made, flagship earbuds able to provide an enormous headphones like soundstage with some intimacy from IEMs sprinkled into the mix. The ES-P3 in my book has taken the place as the top sounding earbuds money can buy beating out my own personal choices of Moondrop Chaconne and Blur DaBass though being a tad light on bass amount. The sound here from a flathead earbuds fan is truly mesmerizing for their clean, clear, sweet neutrality that the sound just immerses me into the music instead of the gears. I would really hope to see a bigger resurgence of flathead earbuds in the coming years of 2025 and Ucotech deserves a pat on the back for this masterpiece. Well done Ucotech.
I would rate this product 4 and a half over 5 stars
Pros
- Solid all metal build with a gorgeous classic design
- Excellent craftsmanship
- Ergonomic fit for an earbuds
- Top notch overall clarity and details
- Well tuned bright signature earbuds
- Superb imaging and separation
- Accurate, high quality bass amount
- Wide dynamic range
- Natural, breathy timbre
- Neutral forward midrange
- Good overall resolution and transparency
- Great sparkly, crisp high range
- Good treble extension with good intensity
- Huge airy soundstage
- Superb musicality
- Scales up very well
- Accessories fit for a king
- Very high quality cable
Cons
- Slightly thin lower midrange
- Not suitable for basshead/lean bass amount
- Not a clinical performer (preference)
- Sub-bass roll off a little early
- Need some power to perform the best
- Mild coloration in the midrange(nitpick)
- Cable is too thick and heavy only suitable for over ear wearing situation
- Long earbuds stem (nitpick)
