Sound Review by KZW
Disclaimer: BQEYZ has graciously provided us with this sample unit in exchange for an honest review. The views discussed below are a reflection of Project A3's thoughts surrounding the product. The sample has been run-in for at least 50 hours prior to reviewing in order to achieve an accurate representation of the product.
The TLDR:
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The following item is NOT recommended if you like:
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A neutral or "ruler flat" signature
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An aggressive or forward upper-mid-high section
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A snappy and controlled bass response
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The following item is RECOMMENDED if you like:
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| A smooth and "musical" signature that emphasizes the low end |
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An engaging and warm, lower-mid section
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| A dynamic low end, with an energetic mid-bass bump and |
Introduction:
BQEYZ is a relatively new start-up from Guangdong, ready to sink their
hands into an already-expansive earphone market saturated with a multitude of all
things porta-audio. Despite being “relatively” green, BQEYZ’s latest IEM, the
Spring 1, has established its own loyal fanbase, as demonstrated by its glowing
reviews on Head-fi.
Featuring a 3-driver structure, using a single piezo-electric driver,
alongside a single dynamic driver and balanced armature on each side, the
BQEYZ’s design utilizes all the drivers that are currently implemented in
traditional IEM engineering; a showcase of the big three. The adoption of an
assemblage of distinct drivers splits the entire audible spectrum amongst them,
allowing the Spring 1 to accurately recreate music, just like how the artist
intended for it to sound (In theory, at least).
But how does the Spring 1 fare against stiff competition? Available at Shenzhen Audio.
PROS
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CONS
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● Well-machined
aluminium shells, with zero blemishes
● Soft
and supple, 8-core braided cable
● Smooth
and musical sound
● Lush
Lower-mids
● Fun
bass response
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● Highs
experience significant roll-off early on
● Scooped out upper-mids
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Specification:
● Triple Hybrid Driver- 13mm Dynamic driver, 1 Balanced Armature
(ba) driver, 1 Piezoelectric driver
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Frequency: 7-40kHz
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Impedance: 43 ohms
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Cable Length: 1.2m
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Pin Type: 0.78mm 2-pin
● Pluge Type: 3.5mm
Gear Used & Tracklist:
Onkyo DP-X1 | Sony NW-A105 | Aune X1S | Periodic Audio Nickel
(Ni) |
Genres
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Artist
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Songs
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Live Recordings
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Diana Krall
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Desperado (Live)
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Natalia Lafourcade
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Soledad y El Mar
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Case Lang Veirs
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Atomic Number
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Depeche Mode
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Question of Lust (Live 1998)
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Instrumentals
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Max Richter
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On the Nature of Daylight
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Santa Esmeralda
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Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
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Nils Frahm
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Toilet Brushes (Live)
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Jazz
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Bill Evans
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A Waltz for Debbie
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Chet Baker
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I'm a Fool to Want You
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Sons of Kemet
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Your Queen is Harriet Tubman
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Ryo Fukui
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Scenery
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Rock
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Avenged Sevenfold
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Nightmare
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The Stooges
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Down On The Street
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Avenged Sevenfold
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Unbound (The Wild Ride)
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Guns N’ Roses
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Sweet Child O’ Mine
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Ozzy Osbourne
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Crazy Train
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Green Day
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21 Guns
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Classical
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Niccolò Paganini
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La Campanella (From Violin Concerto No.2 In B Minor)
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Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
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The Year 1812 Solemn Overture
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David Arnold
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Independence Day
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Pop
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Hu Yang-Lin (胡楊林)
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Perfume is poisonous (香水有毒)
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Fish Leong (梁靜茹)
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Love Song (情歌)
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Western Pop
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Anamanaguchi
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MEOW
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Iamamiwhoami
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Chasing Kites
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Algiers
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Dispossession
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New Order
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Bizzare Love Triangle (Extended Mix)
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Marian Hill
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Breathe Into Me
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Tyler, The Creator
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EARFQUAKE
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Tones and I
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Never Seen the Rain
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Red Hot Chili Peppers
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Around the World
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ACG
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Saori Hayami
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オレンジミント (Orange Mint)
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RADWIMPS
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前前前世 (Zenzenzenzense)
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RADWIMPS
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スパークル(Sparkle)
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DAOKO
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Cinderella Step
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Kana Hanazawa
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恋愛サーキュレーション (Renai Circulation)
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Unboxing:
The Spring 1 comes in a cardboard box with a black sleeve on the outside. Under the front lid, the Spring 1’s sits snugly on the top half of the box. The case is hidden from plain sight, hidden under a cardboard insert. The 2-pin detachable, 8-braided silver-plated copper cable and various silicon ear tips (with differing “signatures”) and a pair of foam tips.
While it doesn’t stray too far
from a conventional package, the items provided in the box covers all the
standard bases that we’ve come to expect from similarly priced offerings. Overall,
a well-equipped offering by BQEYZ.
Scalability:
The Spring 1 is notoriously
difficult to drive, no thanks to its piezo-electric driver which requires
ample power for it to reveal its full potential. However, the Spring 1 sounds
pleasant with most sources. The Spring 1 starts to open up, with a tauter bass
response and cleaner midrange when driven by a powerful source, such as the
Aune X1s.
On digital sources, such as the
Sony Walkman NWZ-A15, I found myself increasing the volume substantially, at
around 30+ extra steps to reach listenable levels. However, the bass sounds
looser and more cavernous on weaker sources. Its dynamic range is limited by a
lack of amplification.
Take note. The Spring 1 is a
difficult earphone to drive. But when paired properly, this earphone a
powerhouse.
It is also worth noting that I
tested the Spring 1’s with the assortment of eartips provided in the package.
The “Atmosphere” or “Reference” tips do little to change the sound-signature to
my ears. But your mileage may vary.
Fit:
The Spring 1 is shaped like a leaf or tear drop. Despite its odd form
factor, the aluminium shells sit well on my outer ear canal, with shallow to
medium insertion depth. It is light weight and rests easy on the ears for long
listening sessions. The satin-finish on the shells are uniform, with zero
sharp-edges or noticeable blemishes.
The 8-braid cable is surprisingly supple and malleable, with little to no
memory. It bends freely and is incredibly flexible, conforming well to the
outer earlobe when worn.
Unfortunately, the Spring 1 does not seal well, failing to block out
unwanted environmental noise in the surrounding area. The three pinhole-sized
vents near the nozzle contravenes on its ability to passively isolate ambient
noise. The constant hum emanating from a train engine easily overpowers the
Spring 1.
If you’re looking for an earphone that shuts out the modern world, these are
not well-suited for use in the outside world. Ambient noise is its downfall.
Sound Signature
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W-Shaped Sound Signature, with a focus on an engaging low end
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The Spring 1 is a musical IEM that
pairs well with most genres, with a forgiving signature that smoothens out the
rough peaks and troughs in dynamically compressed music.
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Lows
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Pros:
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• Well-rounded, mid-bass punch
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• Long-sustain on the sub-bass registers, resulting in a "thick" and engaging low end
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• The low-end is the definitive star of the show
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Cons:
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• Its bombastic low-end may overlap the mids on certain tracks
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• May be too loose with its lengthy sustain | ||
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Reference Tracks / Remarks :
Tyler the Creator- Earfquake
The Spring 1 has an engaging low-end, with a draggy sub-bass rumble that soon follows after its bloated mid-bass response. While this might sound more like negative rather than a positive, I thoroughly enjoyed this signature with electronically produced beats in particular. It is dynamic, engaging and never fails to capture my attention.
Mids
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Pros:
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• Warm and inviting mid-range, with a boosted lower-mid floor
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• Excellent timbre-reproduction
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• Complements intimate recordings perfectly
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Cons:
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• The scoop in the upper-mids results in a lack of detail
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• The "veil" blankets the entire frequency spectrum with a warmish, lush sound
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• Female vocals, especially in the tenor range, sound slightly distant
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Reference Tracks / Remarks :
Natalia Lafourcade- Soledad Y El Mar
Natalia Lafourcade- Soledad Y El Mar
As discussed earlier in the "TLDR introduction", this earphone is not tailored to "reference heads" or people chasing the "Harman Response Curve". Warmth is the name of the game, and the Spring 1 does not shy away from what it set out to achieve. Natalia Lafourcade, juxtaposed by classical guitars sound intimate and "down to earth" on the Spring 1; a match made in heaven.
Highs
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Pros:
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• Good extension without any harshness
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• Carries ample detail despite its lower-mid emphasized signature
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• Has an airy and shimmery quality
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Cons:
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• Lacks enough "bite" or forwardness for an engaging listen
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• Placed behind the mids the lows
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Reference Tracks / Remarks :
Sons of Kemet- My Queen is Harriet Tubman
Do not fret, the highs still exist! And the Spring 1 captures the
“diffuse” sounding nature of the highs without sounding strident in the process.
But for consumers pining after a reference, the Spring 1 is not the right fit .
Soundstage
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Pros:
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• Above-average staging properties
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• Good lateral width between L-R channels
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• Realistic and coherent
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Cons:
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• Not exceptional
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• Shares similar staging properties with its competition
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Reference Tracks / Remarks :
Dry the River- Shaker Hymns (Acoustic)
There isn't much to be said here, but if the Spring 1 wants to stand out further from the competition, it needs to have more headroom and space between instruments. However, the Spring 1 still displays great staging properties.
Separation
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Pros:
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• Excellent Imaging
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• Manages to pinpoint most instrumental and vocal cues
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• Instruments and vocals are given enough breathing room to be distinguished
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Cons:
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• Still struggles in busier tracks
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• Bass bloom can make the entire mix sound clouded
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Reference Tracks / Remarks :
Santa Esmaralda- Please don't let me be misunderstood
While it would be disingenuous to
compare the Spring 1 to its much more expensive counterparts, the Spring 1
surprisingly sounds well-separated, with an excellent imaging prowess,
considering its affordable price point. What’s more impressive, is its ability
to sound coherent as well.
On Santa Esmeralda’s Don’t let me be misunderstood,
the onslaught of instruments, ranging from electric guitars with
hyper-modulated effects and blaring trumpets, each instrument still rings clear
enough so as to be identified. Granted, it still requires a state of focus, but
it is quite a feat for an earphone priced so affordably.
Musicality
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Pros:
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• Pairs well with most tracks, smoothening out any rough edges
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• Sounds amazing with reverb-soaked tracks
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• Forgiving with poorly-mastered recordings
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Cons:
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• Lacks enough sparkle and forwardness for female vocals in the tenor range
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• Brass instruments sound lacking in excitement and verve
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• -
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Reference Tracks / Remarks :
Alex Cameron- Far from Born Again
Max Richter- On the Nature of Daylight
The Spring 1 is an “harmless earphone” that avoids triggering our
delicate sensibilities. As a result, it is a “jack of all trades, but a master
of none”.
However, I would say that songs soaked in reverb during production are
perfectly complementary to the listening experience on the Spring 1. From 80’s
new wave to late 2000’s dream pop, the Spring 1 is the “people’s earphone”, one
that should satisfy most discerning listeners.
Vocal Performance
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Pros:
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• Smooth and forgiving
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• Male vocals in the tenor and baritone range sound deep and rich
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Cons:
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• Too rolled off at times for female and male vocals in the upper-registers
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Reference Tracks / Remarks :
Iamamiwhoami- Tap my glass
Nicolas Godin- Clara
Nicolas Godin- Clara
The warmth that emanates from its lower-mid floor pairs well with darker tracks, but it fails to deliver on the sonic front in the upper registers.
Instrumental Performance
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Pros:
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• Forgiving on many types of instrumentation
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• The shrillness from brass instruments are gone
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• Electric guitars sound incredibly life-like
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Cons:
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• Thick sound can cause unnecessary reverberation
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• While non-fatiguing, it isn't particularly exciting with brass or wind instruments
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Reference Tracks / Remarks :
Jack White- Corporation
Jack White- Respect Commander
Jack White- Respect Commander
The Spring 1 is such a versatile animal; it smoothens out those awful treble spikes and peaky highs. But, at the same time, it kills off any chance it has of really pushing the upper-registers. It is an incredibly addictive sound, but it is rather safe.
Comparison
Chart
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How we compare: We chose other similarly priced earphones or similar
offerings from the same brand that Project A3 has reviewed in
the past, to ensure that we remain as impartial as possible in our comparisons.
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BQEYZ Spring 1
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Moondrop Kxxs
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Shuoer Tape
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Ibasso IT01s
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Suggested Retail Price
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$139 USD
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$189 USD
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$129 USD
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$199 USD
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Driver Configuration
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1 Balanced Armature,
1 Piezo-electric driver and 1 Dynamic driver
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1 DLC Dynamic
Driver
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1 Low voltage, Electrostatic driver
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1 DLC-coated CNT Dynamic Driver
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DAP Suggested
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Mobile/Dongle friendly
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DAP suggested
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Mobile/Dongle
friendly
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Fitting
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Lightweight
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Snug but heavy
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Snug and lightweight
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Snug and lightweight
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Comfort
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Very Good
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Good
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Excellent
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Good
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Sound Signature
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Light V-Shape, sweet
treble, warmish mids
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Mild V-Shape
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Incredibly accurate mids, heavy treble emphasis
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V-Shape, almost neutral
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Lows
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Deep but light
sub-bass, slightly forward mid-bass
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Fast mid-bass but realistic
sub-bass decay. Slightly elevated bass response
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Soft-bass response, more sub-bass than mid-bass.
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Speedy mid-bass, faint sub-bass. Overall flat bass
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Mids
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Engaging, “analog” sounding midrange, with a
lower-mid boost
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Not so prominent
lower mids, similar upper-mid response to the IT01s
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Incredibly clear midrange, slightly heavier focus on upper
mids to lower mids.
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Slightly scooped out, heavy
upper-midrange emphasis
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Highs
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Decent detail with zero harshness, but lacks
forwardness and extension
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Well extended
highs, little to no harshness
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Clear highs, slight brightness
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Sonorous highs, well extended but a tad
shouty
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Soundstage
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Above average horizontal width
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Extremely wide
horizontal width, great positional cues
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Above average horizontal width
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Above-average horizontal width
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Separation
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Above average imaging capabilities. Struggles under
musically complex tracks
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Excellent imaging,
vocals, and instruments are incredibly distinct
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Above average imaging capabilities. Struggles under
musically complex tracks
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Good imaging, easy to distinguish
between vocals and instruments
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Remarks
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Suitable for
people looking for an IEM that serves as a callback to the analog era with a bit
more weighting on the lower mids
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A well-rounded earphone that is suited for many listeners, slightly on the neutral side.
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Suitable for consumers who favour clarity and midrange
detail, especially
focusing on upper mids with less bass quantity
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Good
for people looking for a slightly V-shaped, reference iem.
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Conclusion
The Spring 1 employs a safe
tuning. But if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. It is a mature earphone for an
audience that doesn’t necessarily crave pure clarity, but one that appreciates
musicality. Sometimes, its good to stop and smell the roses.
The Spring 1 is an excellent
earphone that surpasses expectations. To feature a tri-brid array of drivers at
such a low price, is an impressive feat that deserves my full commendation.
If BQEYZ ever releases a
statement piece or a product that screams “flagship”, I am almost positive It’ll
be a raving success.
Be sure to follow Project A3 on Facebook for more reviews*.
*All ratings are accurate as of date of publication. Changes in price, newer models may affect Project A3's views on the performance and value of the reviewed product.
when you say "The Spring 1 is notoriously difficult to drive, However, the Spring 1 sounds pleasant with most sources." does "most sources" include powering it directly from a phone or will it sound like a $30 iem when powered from a phone that does not have enough power ? i prefer avoiding a separate dac or amp and i am not sure if i am not wasting money over spring1 if i only plug it into a phone. thanks
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