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Ewan Yu Chi Shing Printing Equipment Co., Ltd.

Ewan Yu Chi Shing Printing Equipment Co., Ltd.

Ricoh G5S Printhead Review: Performance, Pros, and Cons

A brown box labeled 'IJ HEAD (MH5220)' containing a print head wrapped in bubble wrap, with visible labels and a red dot sticker.

In this post, I’ll give you a quick breakdown of the Ricoh G5S printhead covering its structure, performance, setup options, and what it’s actually like to use in the real world.

1. Build and Structure

The Ricoh G5S shares the same installation dimensions as the G5 and G6, though its physical size is closer to the G6. A key feature is that the head cable and the main body can be separated, which makes it quite versatile and easy to work with.

Technical drawing of a component showing an alignment pin and measurement markings labeled A and B.
Diagram illustrating color resolution for printing, showing single color at 600dpi and dual colors at 300dpi, with labeled sections and color coding.
A close-up view of a printer head with dimensions labeled, showing a black casing, a transparent window, and electronic components on top.

2. Printing Performance

The G5S has excellent ink drop uniformity. With a minimum drop size of 2.5pl, it stands out among industrial-grade heads for its precision. Honestly, the print quality is very close to offset printing standards.

  1. Color Tip: I highly recommend a 6-color setup. The color saturation is much better that way. If you stick with a standard 4-color setup, the colors tend to look a bit light and washed out.
  2. Speed: In terms of raw speed, the G5S performs just about the same as the G5.

3. The “Mix and Match” Setup

One great thing about the G5S is that it plays well with G5 and G6 heads. The Pro Setup: Use G5S for your color channels to get that top-tier image quality, and then use G5 or G6 for your White and Varnish channels. Since white ink and varnish are more likely to clog or cause wear and tear, using G5/G6 for those parts helps keep your maintenance costs down.

4. The Downsides

  1. Low Firing Frequency: It doesn’t have a very high firing frequency, so it’s not great for “high-gap” printing (printing from a distance). It’s best suited for standard, flat printing jobs.
  2. Static Sensitivity: This is the biggest issue with the G5S. While the G5 and G6 can be installed by the thousands with almost zero static issues, the G5S is much more fragile when it comes to static electricity.
    • Common issues: No ink output or “long-spraying” (ink constantly firing from one or two nozzles). Some people blame the boards, but based on experience, it’s really the internal structure of the G5S being more sensitive to static.
A rectangular brown cardboard box labeled 'IJ HEAD (MH5220)' containing a print head.
Close-up of brown packaging boxes containing inkjet print head MH5220, labeled with product information and made in Japan.
A black printer head or cartridge with a silver faceplate, labeled with part number and serial number, placed on a light brown cardboard surface.

5. Important Installation Tips

When you’re installing a G5S, you must take static protection seriously. Always wear an anti-static wrist strap and follow proper grounding procedures. Taking these extra steps will help you avoid frying the head and save you from the headache (and cost) of a ruined printhead.