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Striking Gold? - Shozy & Neo BG5 Review

Project A³by Project A³  in 100-299 , balanced armature , chi-fi , iem review 100-299 , in ear monitor , project a3 , shozy 0 comments
Sound Review by Hoshi星
Disclaimer: Shozy 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 review in order to achieve an accurate representation of the product.







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TL;DR
Not Recommended if you like:
  • Bass-heavy sound signatures.
  • Engaging tuning and "big" sounding IEMs
Recommended if you like:
  • Something neutral adjacent.
  • IEMs with good resolution
  • Highly comfortable and compact IEMs


Introduction:
Today we have the Shozy & Neo BG5, a midrange entry that uses a 5 Balanced Armature per side configuration that Shozy promises to deliver detail retrieval, natural sound presentation, and high-frequency extension in a high-quality shell. We will see if they managed to deliver this promise. The BG5 retails for $279.



ProsCons
  • Excellent fit
  • Solid build quality
  • Good resolution
  • Good stage width and appropriate stage depth
  • Somewhat unnatural timbre 
  • Subbass is lacking and midbass feels hollow
  • Lacks note weight all around



Specification:
  • 5 Balanced Armature Drivers (1 Knowles 22955 for Bass, 1 Ultra High-Frequency Super Tweeter) with a Passive Crossover
  • 22 Ohm Impedance
  • 110dB SPL/mW 
  • 20Hz-20,000KHz

Gear Used & Tracklist:
ifi xDSD | Hiby R6 | xDuoo Link | xDuoo XD-05 | Hidizs AP80 | FiiO Q1 Mk II |
Genres Artist Songs
Live Recordings Diana Krall Desperado (Live)

Natalia Lafourcade Soledad y El Mar

Case Lang Veirs Atomic Number

Depeche Mode Question of Lust (Live 1998)
Instrumentals Max Richter On the Nature of Daylight

Santa Esmeralda Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood

Nils Frahm Toilet Brushes (Live)
Jazz Bill Evans A Waltz for Debbie

Chet Baker I'm a Fool to Want You

Sons of Kemet Your Queen is Harriet Tubman

Ryo Fukui Scenery
Rock Avenged Sevenfold Nightmare

The Stooges Down On The Street

Avenged Sevenfold Unbound (The Wild Ride)

Guns N’ Roses Sweet Child O’ Mine

Ozzy Osbourne Crazy Train

Green Day 21 Guns
Classical Niccolò Paganini La Campanella (From Violin Concerto No.2 In B Minor)

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky The Year 1812 Solemn Overture

David Arnold Independence Day
Pop Hu Yang-Lin (胡楊林) Perfume is poisonous (香水有毒)

Fish Leong (梁靜茹) Love Song (情歌)
Western Pop Anamanaguchi MEOW

Iamamiwhoami Chasing Kites

Algiers Dispossession

New Order Bizzare Love Triangle (Extended Mix)

Marian Hill Breathe Into Me

Tyler, The Creator EARFQUAKE

Tones and I Never Seen the Rain

Red Hot Chili Peppers Around the World
ACG Saori Hayami オレンジミント (Orange Mint)

RADWIMPS 前前前世 (Zenzenzenzense)

RADWIMPS なんでもないや(Nandemonaiya)

DAOKO Cinderella Step

Kana Hanazawa 恋愛サーキュレーション (Renai Circulation)




 
Unboxing:
The BG5 comes in what is already standard for Shozy at this point, a compact box, some accessories, and a zipper case, that while feeling fine for the Form at the more budget price class, leaves me feeling wanting. Inching towards the $300 price bracket, I was hoping for a more premium package. But the range of tips are plenty, if generic, and the cable feels very good, definitely much better than some others so that makes up for it a little bit.

Scalability:
Being a fully Balanced Armature configuration, the BG5 unsurprisingly takes very little to power to get it loud enough for listening. However, this also means poorly built sources will lead to immediate audible hissing. So while power is of very little concern, a high-quality source would still be something you'd want and at the price it sells for is a reasonable expectation of Shozy to have towards the consumers.

Fit:
One of the highlights of the BG5 is the exceptional fit. The shell is compact, well molded, and the finishing is very smooth leading to a very comfortable wearing experience. Lack of noticeable heft also means that even over longer periods of time it does not begin to feel uncomfortable. While the nozzle is short insertion depth is moderate and isolation is very good and as far as aesthetics is concerned the glossy black finish with gold flake accents toe the line of eye-catching without being too loud pretty well.


Sound Signature
A focused and articulate sound signature with a high level of resolving capability.

A sound signature that really delivers well in articulation and detail while lacking a certain thickness and end to end extension. 

The Shozy BG5 almost has a mid centric signature but a palpable buzz of energy at the top end just nudges it away from being so.



Lows
Pros
  • Bass isn't bloated
  • Even bass notes are articulated well
  • There is a midbass bump to try and shore up the inherent nature of the balanced armatures
Cons
  • There is a lack of sub-bass extension
  • The timbre of the balanced armatures still doesn't quite hit pure naturalness.
Reference Tracks / Remarks:
Tyler, The Creator - EARFQUAKE

The synth bass notes, as well as the rolling bassline on the song, just feel hollow on the BG5. Then again it's not unexpected given the configuration. It's articulate and performs admirably in recreating the different notes, but the sense of impact is definitely not there.



Mids
Pros
  • Resolution is impressive
  • Succeeds in presenting vocals and instruments naturally
  • Can handle even complex layering without the midrange getting drowned out.
Cons
  • Maybe not as engaging as some would like.
Reference Tracks / Remarks:
RADWIMPS - なんでもないや(Nandemonaiya)

In a slow-building composition, the strengths of the BG5 are especially highlighted with the delicate vocals, string, and percussion work being held in the spotlight, and yet the BG5 never gets overwhelmed once the chorus hits full swing and the cacophony of instruments and still delivering a full and natural and enjoyable listen.



Highs
Pros
  • Delicate and clear high frequencies
  • The articulation and detail spills over here as well
Cons
  • Top-end extension is only so-so.
  • There is a bit of a bump in the lower treble that those sensitive to it will find uncomfortable.
Reference Tracks / Remarks:
DAOKO - Cinderella Step

The BG5 delivers in the treble region as well. The introductory resonance of symbals are clear, while the synthesizer sounds are well defined, and there is a good sense of air and space, without being overwhelming in harsh tones.



Soundstage
Pros
  • Impressive staging width
  • Good stage depth
Cons
  • So-so stage height
Reference Tracks / Remarks:
Diana Krall - Desperado 

The BG5 presents the stage in a large, particularly wide room setting. Everything is centrally placed and while sometimes tightly recorded songs start to feel weird. Overall the soundstage of the Shozy is very good.



Separation
Pros
  • Note articulation is impressive.
  • Even complex and heavily layered tracks don't faze the BG5
Cons
  • Due to the relaxed sound, sometimes the layering of the sound falls flat tonally.
Reference Tracks / Remarks:
Ryu Fukui - Scenery

Instrumental tracks do a great job in highlighting the strength of the BG5 because the truly great tracks tend to be greater than the sum of their parts and without the vocals to serve as the usual focal points, the ability of the BG5 to discern and reproduce is on full display.



Musicality
Pros
  • Relaxed sound means it is well-suited slower-paced and less dynamic compositions 
Cons
  • The engagement aspect is lacking.
Reference Tracks / Remarks:
Marian Hill - Breath Into Me

This slower song covers for the BG5s lack of engagement and instead highlights its strengths. Deliberate musical beats mean that each and every nuance that the revealing tuning delivers really hits the listener and there isn't an aspect of dullness when you have something more upbeat and dynamic seemingly falling flat.

Vocal Performance
Pros
  • The high level of transparency and articulation means vocals are very nuanced and even parts of singing technique get revealed.
Cons
  • Vocals can be thin and thus lose some impact.
Reference Tracks / Remarks:
Saori Hayami - Orange Mint

Due to the strong technical ability of the BG5, vocals are something it is proficient at and Orange Mint is no exception. Saori Hayami's vocals that are backed by the sweet synth tones really articulate well the nuances of the character voice she employs.



Instrumental Performance
Pros
  • All around detail of most of the audible range means that most instruments are well defined and reproduced well enough
Cons
  • Odd timbre can set things tonally askew.
Reference Tracks / Remarks:
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Around the World 

The aforementioned technical performance, in general, bodes well for the BG5 in terms of handling instrument sections, instruments come through and they come through clear enough without much in terms of getting lost. Again though the lack of body in the overall sound means that some songs that are aided by a "thick" wall of sound of sorts just don't synergize well with this IEM.


Overall Sound Performance
Pros
  • Top-notch detail retrieval at the price point.
  • Pleasant tuning, that excels in technical performance.
Cons
  • Overall could use a warmer sound with more body to be a more all-around option
  • Extension on both extremes of the spectrum is unimpressive.
Remarks: 
In summary, the BG5 has a clean sound that in general fulfills the promise the Shozy gave for it. The technical performance is hard to fault, and it really fits the niche it has. Thing is that exactly what it is a niche, there is a little something that feels missing from the BG5 to fully have an "experience" listening to music, however analytical listeners can rejoice as it's a good option in the price range.

Comparison Chart
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.
Shozy & Neo BG5 Hidizs MS4
Suggested Retail Price $279 $269
Driver Configuration 5BA 1DD+3BA
Scalability Mobile Mobile
Fitting Compact and highly molded shape. Large chunky but smooth and molded shape
Comfort Light, and comfortable for long term wear. Medium weight sits outside the ear. Medium-term wear.
Sound Signature A focused and articulate sound signature with a high level of resolving capability. W-shaped tuning.
Lows Fast BA Bass that has a bit of a midbass bump to compensate Full and thick bass. It can lose focus at times.
Mids Clean, laid back midrange, with good resolution. Full and engaging midrange.
Highs Resolving and clear but smooth. Crisp, airy, with good sparkle.
Soundstage
Open and wide staging.
Good soundstage width.




Separation
Good articulation and placement.
Average, bass congestion can hamper separation and imaging.

Remarks The subdued and relaxed sound that brings plenty of resolution at the price. Fun engaging all-around IEM that does a great job of checking a lot of sonic boxes.


Conclusion:
The BG5 is an interesting model. It's has a very specific direction, a concrete goal. To deliver lots of resolving capability. The BG5 excels at this aspect, in fact at this price there really isn't much that's out there like it. It fits a particular set of customers in mind, and it's for those really looking for what it offers. I'm hard-pressed to recommend it as a general-purpose IEM unless you're really into laid back and relaxed tunings. But if you're looking for something along this price that gives you details and heaps of it? Then look no further, the BG5 delivers that performance, a comfortable shell, a gorgeous cable that frankly is a pretty good deal.

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.



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Project A³ is a collection of individuals that are passionate and dedicated to consumer and enthusiast audiophile products. Originating from various countries and involved in different fields what they all have in common is an appreciation for listening to music in the best way possible.
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