Winning Design

Ratings

Pros

• Warmth and body of the midrange.
• Texture in general and especially of the lower zone.
• Smooth profile with good balance.
• Comfort.
• Construction.
• Cable.
• Transport box.

Cons

• The upper-mids feels marked, somewhat intense.
• The highs are not very explicit.
• The sound doesn’t have a lot of air in it.

Purchase Link

https://es.aliexpress.com/item/4001141518305.html

Link to the Store

https://es.aliexpress.com/store/4997112

Introduction

BQEYZ is a Chinese brand, established in the city of Dongguan. It has been characterized by making IEMS models, using hybrid technology, at prices quite contained. And the result has been quite good. Previously, I have reviewed the models K1 and KB100, with remarkable impressions on both.

Currently, it is the turn of the second version of his most expensive product: the Spring 2, a triple hybrid that mounts a 13mm dynamic driver, a 9-layer piezo-electric driver and balanced armature driver. Its configuration is the same as for version 1, even its shape is practically the same. Only the cable is different, being transparent, allowing to see the thick copper strands used.

In this review I will go deeper into the current top-of-the-range model of BQEYZ.

Specifications

• Drivers Type: 1 DD 9mm + 1 Piezo-Electric 9 layer driver + 1 BA
• Frequency Response: 7Hz-40kHz
• Sensitivity: 110±3dB
• Impedance: 32Ω
• Jack connector: 3.5mm gold-plated
• Capsule Connection Type: 2 Pin 0.78mm

Packaging

The BQEYZ Spring 2 comes in a compact turquoise box, measuring 132x118x54mm. The box is covered by a decorated cardboard. On its front face, in the upper left corner, is written the name of the brand, in white letters. Inside there is a big black 2 and the word «Spring» in a font that simulates handwriting. On the back are the specifications and the contents of the package. The information is written in English and partially in Chinese.

The inner box is black, with a dotted pattern surface, very classic in hardcover books. The brand name is written on the top left in silver letters. After opening the cover, it is possible to see the capsules, black in my case, embedded in a foam of the same color and a gray cardboard box. In it there is a transport case, with a zipper, it is black and it has the logo of the brand. There is also the guarantee certificate and the instruction manual. Inside the case, there are the rest of the accessories. In summary, the contents are as follows:

• The two capsules.
• The 4-strand copper cable and Velcro tape for easy storage, 2 Pin 0.78mm.
• A brush for cleaning the capsules.
• A pair of medium size silicone tips.
• A metal blister pack, which holds the Atmosphere and Reference silicone tips, sizes SxMxL.

I like the box to be compact in size, quite sturdy. I value the carrying case and its good and adequate size. The metallic blister, where the silicone tips are kept, reminds the one that includes the RHA models. The tips are of three types, two sets of silicone and a pair of foam. One set of silicone tips is called Atmosphere, perhaps to enhance the scene. And the game Reference, to respect the basic sound of the IEMS. Due to problems with my ear canal width, I can’t use the standard tips properly. The cable seems to be of very good quality and is made of copper, of a style and use, that fits my preferences. Finally, the cleaning brush is a detail, but it doesn’t seem very useful, I think the bristles should be shorter and harder.

In short, the packaging is quite correct, while the accessory set borders on the usual, without being anything special.

Construction and Design

The capsules of BQYEZ Spring 2 have a very soft and pleasant shape. They are made of aluminium, machined on a 5-axis CNC and anodized. This way, the surface has a rough micro texture, which increases its beauty and provides a really nice touch. The pieces are thick. The external face has an irregular semicircular shape, where one vertex is sharper than the other. The chosen model is black, but on the edge of the external face, it has a bevel, in red, which gives it a distinguished and elegant touch. In the highest part of the semicircle, there is a part of the surface, which is lowered, delimited with a border in the form of a soft wave. On this surface, written in white letters, you can read «BQEYZ» on the right capsule and «Spring II» on the left. The 2-pin 0.78mm connection is located on the most rounded vertex and its connectors are located inside the capsules. The inner face is very rounded and delicate. Near the base of the nozzles, there is a hole, covered, on the inside, with a white grid. Further towards the edge, there is a slit that holds two more holes, at the bottom of which nothing can be seen. In the middle of the three holes, the letter identifying the channel is inscribed in a way that is not very visible, very subtle and small. The nozzles are golden. They are approximately 5mm high. They are divided into three areas of different diameter. The base has a diameter of 7.5mm, the central ring, 5.1mm and the outer crown 5.8mm. Its interior is protected by a perforated metal grid, slightly sunken.

The construction of the capsules is excellent, the effect of the paint, the color combination and the texture is very good. The design of the capsules is very elegant, beautiful, pleasant and attractive. The shapes are soft and delicate. They really are very beautiful.

The cable consists of 4 strands of single-crystal copper, up to 224 wires. Each strand is covered with transparent plastic and is twisted together. The Jack connector is 3.5mm, gold plated. The connector sleeve is a cylinder, whose central radius is smaller. It can be read «BQEYZ» written longitudinally, in black letters. The splitting piece is the same, but slightly smaller. The pin is a transparent plastic ball. The 2-pin connector sleeves still have the same design, but in this case, the letters inscribed indicate each channel. There is a more rigid cover, which gives the cable a question mark shape, for use over the ear. All pins are 0.78mm and gold-plated, embedded in a transparent plastic base. The cable has a black velcro strip for easy storage. This type of cable is one of my favorites. I like them to be short and thick. Besides copper, it is very flexible and easy to handle. I think it is a great cable.

The set, both the design and construction and the detail of the blister pack to store the tips, is outstanding.

Adjustment and Ergonomics

The nozzles are moderately long and have good orientation. With silicone tips, a surface fit is achieved. In my case, thanks to the length of the nozzles, I get the capsules to stay as if they were floating, without hardly touching any part of the ear. The fit is firm and does not move, being durable, even when walking. I have also used bi or tri-flange tips, with great results, as the orientation of the nozzles allows it. With this type of tips, the soundproofing is increased, although, with simple tips it’s already quite good.

The only negative point is that the music can be heard from outside, maybe through the holes, and it can be very annoying if we are in a quiet environment.

Sound

Profile

The BQEYZ have a balanced profile, where no single band excels, in a very predominant way. The mid-high range is its high point. The low-end has a medium presence, with a very accomplished texture, but does not stand out. The highs are soft and not too extensive. The set has a slight warm tendency, providing a fairly safe sound from above, with some intensity in the high mids.

Bass

The bass is focused on the middle zone, it stands out for its texture and the roughness of its execution. This characteristic is clearly perceptible, being the key piece in this low band, providing the greatest attraction of the area. The sub-bass is noticeable, but not remarkable. The sonority is quite natural, it has a relatively fast start, contained and compact, but its disappearance is not so fast, which provides a greater warmth and a slight incidence in the middle zone, not very negative, beyond the warmth it confers. Returning to the texture, it is responsible for the color of the bass is very pleasant and attractive. It makes that, without having a great presence, the music with bass predominance, is quite pleasant, complacent, even, captivating by moments. The descriptive capacity is quite achieved, being able to discern planes at a good level, without excelling in this aspect, but performing well. Although, on the other hand, the lower area is not characterized by being one of the deepest, despite the pleasant sound and naturalness that treasures.

Mids

The mids draw warmth from the lower zone, retaining softness and a higher initial weight. The first half has a good body, which prevents it from feeling hollow or orphaned. There is a good level of presence here, but this is exceeded in the upper mids, although without going to intolerable extremes. Even so, this characteristic is also complemented by a fairly smooth upper zone (at least, in my unit). In this way, the sound is polarized in the upper half, has emphasis, is quite clear, marked, but does not shine too much, leaving it somewhat unfinished, unpolished, halfway through, losing the good coherence of the first half, of the whole sound. However, the result doesn’t feel too strange, the mids can sound quite nice, if the genre or the pieces don’t affect that column too much. The texture, again, plays a very beneficial role, being its greatest achievement, since it serves as a thread of musicality, contributing, what I think is the great attraction of these IEMS: the color and the special sonority/tone it produces. And in this sense, the midrange is not analytical, nor very explicit. The definition is not very high and the resolution level is quite smooth. All this generates some voices, well mixed with the instruments, without a clear favour to one side or the other, nor a predominant presence. They have the good body described at the beginning of the paragraph, which helps them not to sound thin. They are soft and not too outlined, musical at all times, but not too descriptive or detailed. With the instrumentation is similar, in few IEMS I have found that the mixture of both is as homogeneous as in the Spring 2. They preserve the good timbre and the special tonality of the range, as well as the remarkable characteristic texture and the pleasant clarity of the area.

Treble

My unit has quite a bit of treble, far from what I could have anticipated, in a triple hybrid that mounts a BA driver and a piezo-electric. On the other hand, there is energy in them, but not a strong emphasis, which means they feel sharp and powerful, but not too sharp or crisp. The high notes are not punchy, but they are penetrating. This may be due to the particular sonority of the piezo-electric driver, which tries to break down the notes it produces with force, sounding somewhat hard, with good technique, but intense. However, the detail does not feel very precise at the micro level, but is described in a thicker way, with more limited agility and dynamism.

The extension is not very high and the amount of air is good, although a little fair.

Soundstage, Separation

The scene is perceived to be eminently wide, quite frontal, without much height and with a somewhat low level of three-dimensionality, because the depth does not extend too far. The clarity is quite good and is not penalized by the warmth of the sound. The definition at the macro level is remarkable, offering a sound with a good technical level. But the micro details do not feel very exposed and do not have so much definition, since the resolution level is not high. Being strict, perhaps it is due to a mixture of lack of air, global separation, depth and capacity of three-dimensional recreation, which prevents these smallest details from being revealed. Instrumental positioning is quite decent and no instrumental overlap is felt, despite what has been said about the level of separation. The location is good, but the isolation is not so great.

Comparisons

Ikko Obsidian OH10

Between the OH10 and the Spring 2 there are big differences and not only physical ones. The Ikko capsules are heavier, also bigger, but their fit is very good, offering a very occlusive adjustment. The BQEYZ are lighter and float more, ensuring a freer, simpler, perhaps less critical fit. But, despite the higher weight, I prefer the adjustment I get with the OH10.

One of the best things about the Spring 2 is its cable, in contrast, the Ikko cable is quite fair and normal. The presentation is a bit more luxurious on the OH10, more compact on the Spring 2, but I prefer the BQEYZ’s carrying case.

Both are hybrids, being the BQEYZ triple drivers, (1 DD + 1 BA + 1 piezo-electric), compared to the Ikko, which have two drivers (1 DD + 1BA).

In terms of sound, they are different profiles: the Ikko describes its W profile, as opposed to a more balanced profile of the BQEYZ. The Ikko sounds brighter and more analytical, while the BQEYZ is characterized by a greater warmth and neutrality.

The lower area is clearly more prominent in the Ikko, which have a greater impact and, above all, depth. The bass is cleaner and sounds more defined, with good energy and speed, with better plane recreation and more stratified. The bass of the BQEYZ is accentuated in its middle zone, it has a good impact, but without so much energy. It is also agile, but it recovers more slowly, leaving a more hazy and dark feeling, persisting more in the atmosphere, offering a warmer sound, with less resolution, but with a good texture.

The OH10’s mids sound more liberated, thanks to the minimal incidence of bass. The same cannot be said of the BQEYZ, as they carry over warmth and haze from the lower range, mixing the sound to a greater degree. It is true that the warmth of the Spring 2, is something that gives advantage in the recreation of the voices, providing more body and consistency. Meanwhile, in the Ikko, the voices are thinner, but at the same time, they have better definition, detail, a better edge, higher resolution and more nuances. Although, it is clear that they sound more analytical and cooler.

As I say, the greater weight of the lower midrange is a double-edged weapon in the Spring 2 sound: in vocal genres it behaves better, being more complete than the Ikko. With more instruments it is perceived darker and less defined, comparatively speaking. Even so, the overall presence of the middle zone is superior in the BQEYZ, offering a larger, wider, softer sound, but with less resolution and detail. In the end, it is a preference over one profile or another, rather than a clear improvement of the sound between both models.

In the upper mid-range and later in the highs, the differences increase. It is here where it is revealed in different character of each model, warm and more balanced in the BQEYZ, more defined and analytical in the Ikko. Although the Spring 2s are enhanced in the final part of the midrange, their amount of emphasis is not comparable to that of the OH10s. But even their color, timbre, tone and, above all, descriptive ability is not similar. The clarity is much greater in the OH10s, there is more detail and richness of nuance. The notes are more defined, fine and expressive. Meanwhile, the Spring 2 offers a marked, but wider and also smoother sound. The first highs are not as high, crisp, vivid, narrow and dynamic as on the OH10, offering a safer and quieter range, but with less sparkle and detail. Then, in extension, the range seems to even out, but the balance ends up falling on the Ikko side, as far as amount of air is concerned. And that’s something that’s fundamental to their sound. The greater separation, the blacker background it has, the better isolation of the notes, the greater space of its scene, the better instrumental location, are characteristics clearly superior to BQEYZ Spring 2.

Conclusion

The BQEYZ Spring 2 are IEMS whose great virtue is the average. Perhaps, they don’t stand out in anything, or perhaps it’s that they stand out in everything. They adopt a different profile to what I am used to, but they are very pleasant to my ears. Their strengths are their softness, texture, clarity, warmth, timbre and balance. They are also beautiful and comfortable, very well built, with a big cable and a very useful transport box. With these premises it seems that you can’t ask for more. And it is, in large part, quite true. I would recommend the Spring 2 to all those audiophiles who want to take an important step, acquiring an IEMS of this price, when they are not clear which profile to choose. When in doubt, the Spring 2 is at the center of everything, without clearly going anywhere. Perhaps that is why it is difficult to make a mistake with them.

Sources Used During the Analysis

• Burson Audio Playmate
• Tempotec Serenade iDSD
• Tempotec Sonata iDSD Plus
• HiBy R3 Pro
• xDuoo X3 II