The size of the housings is truly impressive.

Excellent review, thanks.

HiFiChris - thanks so much for this review. My wife has been in need of decent earbuds (though she wouldn't admit it) and she's very picky when it comes to style (she leaves the audio pickiness to me and trusts I'll find something decent!). She also has small ears (not freakishly small, you understand, but too small to comfortably try my Yamaha IEMs). So when I read your review I felt these might be a good match for her. Sent her the link and she was enthusiastic. Ordered them for her the next day, they just arrived today and she is delighted - as am I. Though the bass seems to struggle with Hip Hop (this could be alleviated by trying the foam tips - once we get home, I'll give them a go) other than that they are quite remarkable, especially given their size. Lovely clear sound, not bad soundstage for earbuds - just a quality package overall. She's super chuffed, so am I. Would not have known about them had it not been for your review, and you covered them so well I felt I could buy in confidence. Many many thanks!

@misteral201103
 
Thanks for your comment and your impressions! I'm glad she likes them, and you too! I also think that the Q is a really nice in-canal monitor, but I can also relate to your comment about the bass struggling sometimes (it's due to the quantity that is sometimes stressing the tiny drivers a little when very low bass notes hit).

@HiFiChris I'll be asking this in all the reviews - any advice on fitting the foam tips? Flex tips come off and go on with ease, foam is nigh on impossible. Foam tips have a black inner piece - that stays there, right? MAny advice very gratefully received! Thanks in advance 

@misteral201103
 
I'm really not a fan of foam tips (actually quite the opposite although I know how to properly insert them (so that the front part doesn't get squished -> compressing from the top and sides)), and usually also no tip roller because I want everything to be 100% "stock" and "with only the ear tips the manufacturer has included", however I tried some other tips just for you.

Are you referring to silicone tips in general when you say "flex tips? 

I tried some different silicone tips first (Xiaomi Piston Colorful Starter Edition, the red core ones that come with the Titan 1/3/5, all of the three Noble Audio tips, the yellow core Trinity Audio Engineering tips) and they fit. Some other tips such as the Sony Hybrid ones however didn't want to stay on. With the ones that stayed on though (apparently the Q has a nozzle diameter of 9 instead of the more common 8 mm).

With a little stretching as well as carefulness and slowness, I was able to securely fit the Comply Foam and Crystalline Audio foam tips. The Noble Audio and LEAR foam tips also fit well.

With most third-party silicone and foam tips though, the result was a quite muffled and veiled sound (for my ears) compared to the Q's stock tips.