BQEYZ (Best Quality Earphones For You) is another new player in the highly competitive Chi-fi in-ear monitor market. They have started as an OEM manufacturer and have branched out to create their own IEM models. Most of their products are in the budget category but they are constantly adding higher-end products to their lineup.
The Spring 2 is currently their flagship offering and is the sequel to the Spring 1. It is a triple driver hybrid IEM that has a unique configuration. It utilizes one dynamic driver, one balanced armature driver, and a 9-layer piezoelectric driver.
The use of a piezoelectric driver on IEMs is not common in the sub 200 USD price range. But it sure is exciting to see that companies are deviating from the usual driver setups and are starting to do something different. We are now seeing planar magnetic, electrostatic, and piezoelectric even on affordable models. These drivers help provide a different kind of sound signature from the usual BA, dynamic, and hybrid offerings.
But of course, we all know that the number of drivers or the type of drivers does not tell the whole story. These drivers must still be well-tuned to get a great sound. So how well does the BQEYZ Spring 2 perform? Keep on scrolling to find out.
Disclaimer
The review unit was provided by BQEYZ. We would like to thank them for their support and for making this review possible. However, this does not influence our review in any way. Everything written here is my honest opinion.
Contents
Packaging and Accessories
Before we get to the rest of the review, let us briefly tackle the packaging and the accessories that come with the Spring 2. BQEYZ chose to pack the Spring 2 in a small and compact box. BQEYZ has gone for a more straightforward and minimalistic unboxing experience, which helps keep the overall presentation clean.
The only issue I had is that the accessories are all stuffed inside the carrying case. But I don’t have any major complaints here.
The Spring 2 comes with a good selection of ear tips. Six pairs of silicone tips are presented in a metal card, while one pair of foam tips are stored inside a plastic case. You get seven pairs in total.
Normally, you would only get three pairs of ear tips (Small, Medium, and Large), but BQEYZ has included an alternate pair that can slightly alter the sound. The atmosphere ear tips are larger and are designed to increase the bass response. The reference ear tips, as the name implies, makes no alterations to the sound signature of the Spring 2.
I opted for the reference ear tips since I wanted to get the most accurate representation of the Spring 2. A cleaning tool is also included, which is always appreciated. All of these can fit in the large carrying case. The case isn’t anything fancy but it does its job.
Overall, the Spring 2 has a simple unboxing experience that contains a complete set of accessories. But of course, the packaging and accessories are not the main attraction here, so let us move on to the build quality.
Design and Build Quality
Shells
The BQEYZ Spring 2 has an exceptional build quality, especially for its price range. Most modern IEMs in the sub 200 USD price range often go with acrylic shells that mimic Custom IEM designs (CIEMs). The Spring 2, on the other hand, takes a different route by utilizing CNC aluminum on its shells.
The shells are well made with no visible glue residues or imperfections on the body. The nozzle is made of brass, which not only helps give it a solid feel but also adds to the aesthetics. It feels sturdy, so you can confidently try out different ear tips without the fear of the nozzles snapping off.
The Spring 2 also features silver accents on the faceplate as well as laser-etched BQEYZ and Spring 2 logos. The green and brass color combination with the silver accents (officially called olive green) give the Spring 2 a premium look that I would not have imagined to be possible on a sub 200 USD IEM.
The colors are well-executed and truly live up to its namesake. For those who aren’t fans of the color scheme, the Spring 2 also comes in a black color scheme (officially called midnight black).
In terms of durability, BQEYZ claims that the shells have gone through a two-step anodizing process that ensures that the colors would not fade quickly. Aluminum shells often show wear and tear, such as scratches, so it is reassuring to know that you do not have to worry too much when using the Spring 2 as your daily driver.
Overall, I am a big fan of what BQEYZ has done with the design and build quality of the shells. The build quality alone makes the Spring 2 a strong competitor in this price range, so props to BQEYZ for doing such a good job.
Stock Cable
BQEYZ has also done a fantastic job on the stock cable. I’m happy that they gave an equal amount of effort in designing the cable. The one that comes with the Spring 2 is a 4-strand, 224-core single crystal copper wire. It feels durable and has the aesthetics to match both color schemes of the Spring 2.
In terms of the feel, the stock cable is soft to the touch and does not seem to have cable memory. They are on the thicker side, but they are always easy to handle. I also appreciate several design elements on the cable, such as the transparent Y-split, silver accents, and subtle branding that helps differentiate it from other stock cables.
The only complaint that I have is that it has a plasticky feel that is noticeably not as smooth as some of the stock cables on more expensive IEMs. But at this point, I’m just nitpicking. Overall, the stock cable is excellent and is possibly one of the best that you can get in this price range. I was never tempted to use the Spring 2 with my personal third party cables.
BQEYZ also gives you the option to choose the termination for the cable. The Spring 2 is available in 3.5mm SE, 2.5 mm balanced, and 4.4 mm balanced. I’m glad they offer all common connection types so you can use the Spring 2 no matter what source you are using. (We chose the 2.5mm cable for this review).
Fit and Comfort
The BQEYZ Spring 2 is one of the smaller IEMs that I have tried. But I was surprised by how light they were considering the materials used. The lightweight nature and the size of the Spring 2 greatly helped with the comfort of the IEMs. I was able to wear them for hours without taking them off.
The Spring 2 features several grooves that are similar to semi-custom IEMs such as the BGVP VG4 and the QDC Neptune. However, due to the size and material of the shells, they did not quite have the same effect. The fit wasn’t as snug as semi-custom IEM designs, but the tradeoff is that the Spring 2 was easier to put on and remove.
One of the major downsides of this smaller shell design is the weaker sound isolation. It was easy to get a good seal using the stock ear tips, but the isolation was noticeably not as good as larger IEMs such as the BGVP VG4.
The Spring 2 was stable in my ears, and I did not feel like they would constantly fall. Overall, the Spring 2 has a great shape that should fit most ears.
Sound Quality
Presentation
The overall signature of the Spring 2 is leaning towards the brighter side of the spectrum. The Spring 2 is not afraid of having an extended treble response with lots of energy due to how well it manages to control it. The Spring 2 manages to extract a lot of detail on the treble while maintaining its smooth nature.
I would best describe the Spring 2 as a mature sounding IEM. However, it does not sound too clinical and still manages to give a pleasing and enjoyable experience.
The Spring 2 performs best with acoustic, violin, orchestral, and vocal-based tracks. That’s not to say that it doesn’t work well on other types of music, but this was where I found the Spring 2’s mid and treble performance to shine the most.
Lows
Despite its brighter tuning, the Spring 2 is not lacking in bass. But, BQEYZ has opted for a more realistic sounding approach that helps with the Spring 2’s clean low-end presentation. The dynamic driver gives bass notes a good amount of punch that can bring instruments such as the kick drum to life.
It is well-controlled and does not bleed into the mids. It perfectly fills up the bass region and completes the overall sound.
Due to its dialed down approach, however, some may find the bass to be lacking. This may seem odd since the Spring 2 is utilizing a perfectly capable dynamic driver. However, I think the bass fits well with the context of the overall tuning, which has more emphasis on the mids and highs.
Mids
The mids were very satisfying to listen to on the Spring 2. The balanced armature driver gives the mids a good amount of detail, which made vocal-based and acoustic tracks a treat to listen to.
Despite the detail that the mids have, they are presented in a smooth and coherent matter. This prevents the mids from being too shouty or fatiguing to listen to.
And also, despite the forward nature of the mids, there wasn’t an instance where upper mids were clashing or mixing with the highs. Even with busy tracks, female vocals had a distinct tone and separation from other instruments found on the treble region, such as crash cymbals.
Detail retrieval on the mids was also great. I could easily hear backing vocals and other vocal tracks that are usually buried within the main vocals. This was very evident in live performances.
Highs
The highs are where the Spring 2 truly excels at. The treble region is usually hard to get right since an excessive amount can lead to harshness and fatiguing listening experience. But if they roll off too early, then the airiness and detail are lost.
But this is where the piezoelectric driver does its magic. The Spring 2 is able to extract more detail in the high-end region and present it in a clean and enjoyable manner. I could clearly hear elements such as crash cymbals, even on busy tracks. And thanks to the detailed treble response, the overall sound is incredibly clear on the Spring 2.
The treble region is the most energetic area of the Spring 2, so it is natural to assume that this may lead to an unpleasant experience. I never had a problem with the Spring 2’s treble presentation, even on my more accurate sounding sources, But for anyone who is concerned, make sure to have a warm source to tame the highs. We will talk more about the pairings later.
Imaging and Soundstage
Soundstage for the Spring 2 is above average. Thanks to its more subdued bass response and well-extended treble, the soundstage has the illusion of being wider. The Spring 2 has good depth and width that helps give each instrument proper separation.
The imaging was also very good on the Spring 2. Each instrument was always easy to pinpoint. They were always distinct and well defined. This was one of the IEMs where I could enjoy listening to orchestral pieces.
Comparisons
BGVP VG4 (Dip Switches Set at 1 1 0)
The BGVP VG4 is a more expensive IEM with more sound tuning options. It might initially seem odd to compare such different IEMs. However, this is a great example of how well the Spring 2 keeps up with more expensive IEMs.
Both the VG4 and Spring 2 traded blows. The BGVP VG4 had the fuller sounding bass even with the bass boost switch turned off. This is an impressive feat considering the VG4 has balanced armature drivers which should be less capable compared to the dynamic drivers on the Spring 2.
The BQEYZ Spring 2 is not too far behind when it comes to the technicalities of the bass. It only loses when it comes to the bass quantity.
But in terms of the highs, the Spring 2 easily gets the upper hand. The Spring 2 had a better extension on the highs that were able to reproduce certain genres such as orchestral pieces better. The VG4 was more reserved and seemed to be staying on the safe side to avoid harshness.
The mids were on par with each other. I could easily detect and differentiate the various layered tracks on the vocals. The only difference between the two is the presentation.
Both the Spring 2 and VG4’s mids are forward in the mix. However, the VG 4 can make the mids more neutral-sounding by turning off the 1st and 2nd position of the dip switches. Overall, both IEMs have their own strengths and weaknesses, but there was never an area where the Spring 2 could not compete.
Pairing
Astell & Kern AK70 Mk2
I did most of my listening with the 2.5 mm balanced output of the AK70 MK2. However, I used the 3.5mm SE port when making comparisons.
The AK 70 MK2 and Spring 2 paired well. The AK70 MK2 was able to bring out and further enhance the Spring 2’s mid and treble response.
I highly recommend using the Spring 2 on balanced mode if you want to further increase the detail on the mids and highs.
iFi Nano iDSD Black Label
The iFi Nano BL served as the middle ground between my three sources. It was not as warm as the Sony NW A55 but was not as colored as the AK 70 Mk2.
Unlike the Sony NW A55, the iFi Nano BL was still able to bring out the details in the mid and high frequencies.
Sony NW A55
The warm-sounding Sony NW A55 helped tame the Spring 2’s energetic treble. There were some slight details that were lost, but overall, the listening experience was still enjoyable.
If you are treble sensitive and find the Spring 2 to be too harsh for your taste, then warm sources such as the A55 help with reducing the energy on the high-end. Of course, higher-end sources will not take too much of a hit on the mids and treble, unlike the entry-level NW A55.
Verdict
Overall, BQEYZ has done a fantastic job with the Spring 2. They risked a lot with making the Spring 2’s treble as energetic as it is, but thanks to their masterful execution, the tuning works.
And it’s not only the sound quality that they managed to get right. They also nailed the build quality. The aesthetics and feel of the IEM are on point, and I would honestly put these up against more expensive offerings.
Of course, the Spring 2 is not perfect. If you are more of a fan of V-shaped IEMs with lots of emphasis on the bass, then this won’t do it for you. But if you enjoy a more realistic sound with lots of detail on the mids and highs, then the Spring 2 should be a top competitor in the sub 200 USD price point.
BQEYZ has managed to nail all the essential features of a sub 200 USD IEM. The Spring 2 easily gets a recommendation from us.
I’m happy with the direction that BQEYZ is taking. If they decide to make a higher-end flagship with a similar tuning but with a more refined sound, then they might have another winner.
The BQEYZ Spring 2 can be purchased at BQEYZ’s AliExpress Store as well as on Amazon.
Specifications
- Dynamic Driver: 13mm
- Impedance: 32 Ω
- Sensitivity: 110 dB
- Frequency: 7-40KHz
- Cable Length: 1.2m
- Pin Type: 0.78mm-2 Pin
- Plug Type: 3.5mm
- Driver units: 13mm Coaxial dynamic driver+9 Layers piezo electric+Balanced armature
Albums Used For Testing
- Milet – Eyes
- Babymetal – Metal Galaxy World Tour in Japan
- Babymetal – Metal Galaxy
- Mamamoo – Reality in Black
- Nobuo Uematsu – Distant Worlds: Music From Final Fantasy
- Pentatonix – Pentatonix Volume 2
- Lindsey Stirling – Artemis
- Moe Shop – Moe Moe
- Nick Johnston – Remarkably Human
- Radwimps – Kimi no Na wa (Your Name) OST
Stephen is a musician, cinematographer, and headphone enthusiast who is passionate about reviewing audio equipment. He has been playing guitar for at least a decade, which introduced him to professional recording equipment such as headphones and in-ear monitors. With the help of reviews and online content, he was able to learn the ins and outs of the hobby. His goal is to give back to the community by providing quality content to help others enjoy the beautiful (and expensive) world of audio.
Favorite Headphones: Sennheiser HD660s