Disclaimer: This demo unit is loaned by a friend from my local community in exchange for my honest opinion.
This review is originally posted on Head-fi.org.
Check out the unboxing here if you haven’t.
Introduction:
BQEYZ is another audio company based in China. They are a rather new company but had gained quite a good reputation in the community after their pretty successful attempt on the budget IEMs such as the Kb100, BQ3 and KC2.
But last year, they try to venture into the sub $150-$200 IEMs with their tribrid set up IEM, the BQEYZ Spring 1. From what I had gathered, the reception from the chi-fi enthusiasts is quite positive despite a few of their shortcomings. So to maintain that without losing their signature, they are now back with the Spring 2.
I personally haven’t tried any of their IEMs. So this is pretty much my first time with the BQEYZ.
Price: 170 USD
Spring 2 Specifications:
Unit: 9-layers piezoelectric ceramic sheet + 13mm Bionic diaphragm dynamic driver + 1 balanced armature
Impedance: 32 Ω
Sensitivity: 110dB±3dB (@1k)
Frequency response: 7-40kHz
Cable length: 1.2m
Pin type: 2pin 0.78mm
Earphone single weight: 13.3g±5g
Sound Analysis:
Set up used:
- DAP: Shanling M6
- Cable: Stock
- Tips: Azla Sedna Short (black)
BQEYZ Spring 2 is a hybrid IEM that consists of a 13mm coaxial dynamic driver, 9 layers of Piezoelectric and a balanced armature.
The tuning of Spring 2 can be categorized as mild V-shaped tuning since it has some boost on both bass and treble frequency.
Lows
The low end of Spring 2 is pretty neutral and leaning towards the mid-bass instead of sub-bass with the rise starting from 40hz onward. Though the boost here wasn’t a lot, it’s still able to deliver enough punchiness to make them sound fun.
But overall, the quality of the bass here is just average. The speed and decay are neither too fast nor too slow, the attack is slightly blunted, the texture is a bit smoothed out and it isn’t very tight, which causing them to bleeds to the mid and sound less clean. It also sounds slightly hollow and lacks proper body sometimes.
Mids
Pretty good. They sound much warmer than my preference now but it’s decently done. Since it’s impacted by the mid-bass bleed, the vocal here sounds thicker and more full-bodied, making them more suitable for male vocals instead of females. They are also safe from shoutiness despite the pinna gain that they have.
But because of the bleed too, the vocals here sound more recessed, veiled, and less transparent, especially female vocals. The tonality here is also a bit off since I notice them having a tad lighter note than what I usually listen to.
Treble
The treble on Spring 2 can be considered to be pretty safe here, actually. They are able to deliver enough clarity and crispness when there are cymbals or high hats playing without getting splashy or too artificial. And although the extension on the upper treble is lacking, they are still able to sound pretty airy, surprisingly.
But it’s worth mentioning that I do catch some hints of sibilant and feel a bit of fatigue when I listen to some tracks because of the peak on the 8k. So for those who are treble sensitive, this IEM will likely be a no-go.
Soundstage & Imaging
The soundstage on Spring 2 is slightly above the average in their price range with the dominance of width over height. They sound open and spacious from the airiness that they have has some depth to it too. Only, it is still not enough to make it fully holographic. But their imaging is still good.
Resolution & Separation
The resolution and details are on par with the price, but I still wouldn’t consider it as a detail monster IEM. The separation is also decent since it has a nice amount of air and some depth, so instruments sound less congested here.
Drivability
Spring 2 surprisingly doesn’t need a lot of power to drive even though they are using a tribrid set up. You can safely drive them even just by your phone and don’t have to worry about the volume.
Comparison:
Moondrop Starfield
The vocal on Starfield is still the winner for me, as they sound more transparent, textured, and natural than Spring 2. Isolation is also better, bass noticeably having a tad better rumble and body, so instruments like bass guitar sound much more satisfying on Starfield than on the Spring 2 and since it’s only single DD, they are more dynamic.
The Spring 2 offer a less engaging experience than Starfield, as Starfield tends to be more in-your-face type while Spring 2 is more relaxed/laid back.
Other than that, the Spring 2 is easier to drive than Starfield. The treble and technicalities are also slightly better on Spring 2 even though it’s not very far away.
Verdict:
With nothing that is standing out of them, it’ll be pretty hard for them to compete with other IEMs in their class. Because there has been a lot of IEMs with similar tuning around and some of them are also cheaper in price. The only thing that will attract people is their spec, the tribrid set up with 9 layers of piezo that they have. But honestly, I didn’t notice they sound unique or any different from other hybrids IEMs.
But I would say I’m still fairly impressed with the Spring 2. The tuning is not offensive at all and they also have decent technicalities for the class they are in, which will be a pretty good all-rounder for those who are looking for one. With most of their flaws that are also still pretty forgivable and varied accessories included, you’ll not feel your money go to waste. So in this case, what they are offering is still on par with what you’ll be paying.
Ranking: B=
If you have difficulty understanding my assessment, please refer to the FAQ
TheBartenderd 