BQEYZ KB1

jagujetas72

Head-Fier
BQEYZ KB1: No Nonesense Fun
Pros: Fun, Well-Executed Tuning
Bass Extension
Solid Aluminium Build
Cohesive Hybrid Design
Cons: *Needs Modding*



IMG_20211017_151205.jpg




At a Glance:

Overall Rating: A+ (S+ to C-)

Category: C (20-100 USD), MSRP: 35-40 USD, Acquired at: N/A, Tour Unit





Diclaimer:

This unit was provided to me in a tour organized by another HiFi enthusiast (@Raymond Roque). I have not been paid any money to make this review, though BQEYZ and Elle Zhou were responsible for providing the units for review. Rest assured that no external factors outside of my listening experiences will affect the content of this review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.



Overview:

The KB1 is another one of BQEYZs 20-40$ hybrid IEMs like the KC2, K2, KB100 and many more. This time it comes in a 2+1 driver configuration with a 10mm dynamic, a smaller 6mm micro-dynamic and a single Balanced Armature driver. The tuning is tuned to a fun V-shaped signature.



Inclusions: N/A

This unit was provided as part of a review tour, and I only received the driver. As such, this entire review will be done without anything stock.


IMG_20211017_150806.jpg

Build: S-

This IEMs driver shells are built entirely out durable feeling aluminum which lends itself quite well to a comfortable heft in the hands while still being light enough to be comfortable in the ear. The shells are finished in what looks to be a matte anodized coating (grey on my unit) that feels significantly more durable than the typical paint finish used on comparable IEMs like the Moondrop SSP. The connectors used are marginally recessed 0.78mm 2-pin connectors that allow for a more secure and safe fit at the cost of compatibility with short pinned connectors. However, I found that most cables still fit quite well nonetheless, they just weren’t able to take advantage of the extra durability offered by the recession. The nozzle is a rather wide bore affair that unfortunately doesn’t feature a nozzle to hold tips in place which means that non-grippy tips tend to slide off. Comfort on the other hand is about average. The smaller sized shells don’t cause any discomfort, however they don’t do anything for it either and it means that comfort is mainly tip dependent. Overall build is excellent with a couple of minor quirks that keep it from getting a top score.



Sound Review Conditions:


  • BQEYZ 8-Core SPC Upgrade Cable was used
  • Beenoise Wide Bore Eartips & AZLA SednaEarFit
  • Deezer, Foobar 2000, Signalyst HQ Player

IMG_20211017_150844.jpg

Sound:



Note:


This IEM is comes with BQEYZ’s standard cheese grater filter with holes too small to properly allow airflow. As with other models like the Summer, removing said filter makes the IEMs sound more open and airy by improving the soundstage width and giving the sound more separation and layering within that space. Before the filter mod, this IEM sounded homogenous and bloated and removing the filter undoubtedly improved the sound in my opinion. For safety’s sake I replaced the filter with a metal mesh filter that was as acoustically transparent as I had available. If you do purchase this IEM I highly encourage the filter mod, it does a lot for the sound.



Bass: S

Bass on this IEM is slightly boosted across all frequencies from the subbass to right under the midrange. Extension is great, it’s capable of hitting all the way down to the lowest reaches of subbass which lends itself to excellent note weight and impact without needing a boost in the midbass. The midbass is about even with the subbass and it helps bass to have a good sense of punch in the more moderate bass frequencies which is supplemented by the subbass thrum allowing this IEM to have impactful and hard-hitting bass when necessary but also giving it the control and “tight” quality that allows things like the snare drum to sound their best. Additionally, thanks to the balanced of midbass and subbass this IEM has very good texture and frequency separation across the bass region, preventing the bass from sounding “one-note”. Overall bass quality is excellent with the filter mod, textured, fun and present but not overwhelming or uncontrolled.



Mids: A+

This IEM midrange presents as relatively neutral in coloration, with perhaps some extra sizzle in the top end thanks to the BA driver. Thanks to the well-tuned quantity of bass the lower mids sound sufficiently thick and lush without being overtly warm and colored. Male vocals and thicker string and wind instruments sound quite good but they are perhaps even more slightly recessed than female vocals. Speaking of female vocals and the upper register in general they sound a little bit more forward than the lower region after the filter mod, likely thanks to some extra air being added to them. Mild 2-3k peaks mean that vocals have the characteristic transient bite that they require to avoid sounding laid back and more impressively, BQEYZ has managed to strike a careful tonal balance wherein harshness and sibilance are avoided in all but the worst of recordings. Overall, the midrange here is quite good, just a touch (very small amount really) recessed and tilted towards the upper regions more than the lower ones meaning that it does better in certain areas as a tradeoff. Issues are more significant here but still very good and very well-tuned, especially for a V-shaped IEM.



Treble: A-

This IEMs treble is tuned in a manner that’s rather common to a lot of budget chi-fi buds, extension up 8k then a chasm of death caused by a roll off. The tastefully done peaks at 3k and 8k mean that treble snap and some of it’s decay is executed properly and sounds good, however the lack of extension does mean that top range airiness and shimmer suffer as a result. Detail is thankfully spared thanks to the extension to 8k but it really does show it’s inadequacies above that. This seems to be a common theme with even the best tuned budget IEMs since their cheaper, and likely more mass-market BAs can’t reach the upper frequencies like a high-quality super tweeter from Knowles or Sonion can. Unfortunately, this seems to be an inexorable theme across this price range. I hope that in time, technology will trickle down and allow manufacturers to tune extension properly. In conclusion, this treble is rather mediocre and perhaps only the slightest bit ahead when taken as an element of a whole.
IMG_20211017_150735.jpg



Technicalities: S

On first listen, these were what stood out to me, and in a bad way. Congested, was the operative word. As soon as I hacked those filters up the sound just opened up. The soundstage didn’t get much wider but the large increase in depth and imaging performance allowed this to shine, with separation of instruments being most apparent. The depth of the soundstage and accuracy of the imaging also lent itself incredibly well to pinpoint layering which allows this IEM to really separate out even the most congested of tracks and present them in a way that isn’t too over-the-top. Coherency is great, BQEYZ has always been known for the strength of eliminating BA timbre and this IEM is no different, it’s warm where it needs to be and metallic when called for. Overall technical performance is great with the filters but worse without so go ahead and try it.



Conclusion:


These are a fantastically tuned set of hybrids with a nice and enjoyable signature that steps away from many pitfalls that other hybrids make. They don’t particularly stand out in any way, good or bad but in a chifi world wherein rushing out tuning and incoherent hybrids are the norm, something like this is a simple, enduring classic that is an easy recommendation. Recommended

IMG_20211017_151134.jpg




  • Like
Reactions: numand

zenki

500+ Head-Fier
KB1 Kenobi
Pros: - Build quality
- Versatile IEM
- Very good Overall Sound Quality (SQ) for the price
- Soundstage
Cons: - Short nozzle fits harder
- Not for a specific music genre
TL;DR
A steal for $20.

Package
IEM, BQEYZ tips, cablex2, pouch? (Yes two cables, very generous)

Build
Aluminium feels premium. Not bad looking either. Lightweight.

Cable
Standard cable one with and one without mic.

First thought/What to expect
Heard about BQEYZ for a while, never had the chance to try one until the $20 vending machine came along. Not expecting anything really at this price point.

SOUND
Bass
Well rounded bass in terms of quality and quantity. Probably not up to e3000 standards but still good and not overpowering.

Mids
Didn't find any issue with female vocals. Peakiness/shoutiness could be borderline in certain tracks but generally they're safe. Can lack energy in few tracks.

Treble
Decent treble with enough details. No issue with sibilance. Didn't notice any artificial/metallic sound. Better than e3000 in this department.

3d-ness
This is where the surprise lies. It has a further soundstage than sora-2, probably somewhere along medium field (Totally unexpected). No problem in locating sound source eg. top-left, bottom-right etc. Doesn't have a complete full surround.

Tonality/Timbre
Sounds good overall.

Itsy Bitsy Tips
Tried with multiple tips, not a problem.

FR
k3n4jm.jpg


Closing thought
So how does it perform? Does it worth the $40? Hard questions to answer indeed.
If you listen to Chinese music then this' thing is it.
I was chilling, listening to random tracks from a mobile. Western, Japanese tracks etc2 then come along Chinese tracks. Couldn't believe how good it actually sounded (sounded better than sora-2 when I thought it's not even possible). I just reacted, jumped up, eyes wide open. Thought it's just a mere coincidence, so played the next Chinese tracks. The majority of them sounded better, if not equal to sora-2. Un-freagin-real.
So it just fell short of being a e3000 killer but if you listen to tracks with multiple language, mutiple genre or random/radio then BEQYZ KB1 is it.

Verdict
Definitely 4.5~5/5 for $20, 4~4.5/5 for original price.

P.S. Keeps me wondering if other BQEYZ are tuned like this.
Last edited:

DallaPo

New Head-Fier
Pros: cool, high-quality design
balanced V-signature
good bass response
Cons: some mid-bass bleeding
sometimes tiring highs
Intro
BQEYZ is new on the Chi-Fi market, at least under this name. They currently have 4 models in their luggage, whereby the KB1 with its three drivers is the "smallest" model. The review is one and the same as that of the **** NY-06 because they are exactly the same headphones. Both companies seem to have used an OEM version and only the outer plate is slightly different.

Handling - 9.6
As already mentioned, the quality, i.e. the materials, design, and workmanship is excellent.
In the same breath the Revonext QT2/QT3, KZ ZS6/ZSA, TRN V80, **** NY-06, as well as the other models of the BQEYZ series are mentioned.

The included cable is similar to TRN's cable with preformed earhooks, but has a better positioning of the Y-Split. There's nothing negative to report here, it's simply a very good standard cable!

The wearing comfort is comparable to the above-mentioned models, where you could notice that the in-ears are noticeable because of their metal construction, but this is not disturbing.
The package content is limited to the most necessary, with silicone tips, cables, and the in-ears, but not everything has to be decorated with gold leaf, rhinestones or a vacuum cleaner. Better this way and good in-ears than the other way around.

Sound - 8.3
The sound is basically comparable to that of the Revonext QT2. That means the KB1 is very good! If you start from the same drivers, you may be able to explain the differences by the different construction methods.

The bass is rather middle bass heavy, but can also go much deeper and with a lot of pressure. Because the bass is already preferred, we have a slightly unnatural warmth in the music. When it is demanded by individual tracks, it really rattles in a positive sense.

The mids have great clarity, can also score with details and are simply round! Also here very close to the QT2, but I would describe them a bit cooler and more exhausting at high volume because then they already go quite a long way. Basically, we're talking about a classic V-signature. The voice reproduction is good for both sexes.

The treble is clearly above the mid-range, especially in the lower region. This makes them stand out well on the one hand and also contributes to a wider stage, on the other hand, it is a bit tiring in the interaction with the mids at a higher volume. A little more brilliance at the top might not hurt either, but they are very well positioned for the price range. That's a really high level of complaining because the KB1s are great in-ears with bass head factor and also audiophile.

Outro
The comparison with the REVONEXT QT2 is almost identical. I would prefer the KB1 for bass and stage, but the QT2 for treble and midrange. If you now add the TRN V80 or the KZ ED16, which are also convincing in all frequency ranges, the KB1 is at eye level. In addition to its sound, it also convinces with its quality. GOOD WORK BQEYZ!

UPDATE: The Head-Fier Otto engine compared the frequency response of the NY-06 (KB1) and the QT2. These are almost the same if you consider the measuring tolerance. The minimal sonic differences can only be explained by the different construction and fit".


BUY HERE: PENON AUDIO

___________________________________________________________
More reviews: https://david-hahn.wixsite.com/chi-fiear
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CHIFIEAR/
  • Like
Reactions: numand and trellus

Palash

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Superb Built quality,
Comfort for long listening,
Price to performance ratio,
Balanced Sound.
Cons: Mids seems a bit recessed with stock cable*,
No lip to hold the tips,
No carry case.
Features
Technology – Hybrid IEM,
Body - CNC Machined Aluminum,
Colors - Black or Grey,
Nozzle size - 5.5mm,
Cable - Removable cable (Behind the ear) type,
Controls -1 button control w/Mic.

sss.jpg

Specification
Driver unit - 10mm single dynamic + 6mm single dynamic + 1 Balanced Armature,
Frequency response - 7-40KHZ,
Impedance - 15Ω,
Sensitivity - 105 dB / mW,
Plug - 3.5mm,
Connector - 2pin 0.78mm,
Weight - 25±5g.

What’s inside the Box ?
BQEYZ KB1 earphone itself,
3 pairs of Silicone eartips (Wide Bore) (S/M/L),
User Manual.

Buying Link - https://penonaudio.com/bqeyz-kb1.html

Tracks/ Albums used to evaluate
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Ed Sheeran - ÷ (Deluxe)
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
Fleetwood Mac - Tango In the Night (Deluxe)
Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon (2011 - Remaster)
Sia - This Is Acting (Deluxe Version)
The Beatles - Abbey Road (Remastered)
The Best Of Nina Simone - Nina Simone

DSC_0211.JPG

Introduction
BQEYZ, yes you heard it right. This time BQEYZ KB1. What is the full form of BQEYZ, may be ‘Best Quality Earphones for Your ….’ Sorry I can do only that far. So its better appreciate their work not their name. I would like to thank Penon Audio for providing me this unit for review. I have tried to give my closest possible honest opinion on it, in this review. ‘Opening the box of a audio gear and giving impression’ sorry I am not that kind of person, may be people call me lazy but music and audio gears is like old wine for me and need good amount of time to evaluate . Before this review I have given KB1 approximately 50 hours of burn-in.

DSC_0211a.jpg

Unboxing
It’s just a 3” X 3.5 “black box and everything packed well inside. BQEYZ branding on front of the box and specifications as well as manufacturer details clearly printed back of the box, so unboxing experience is simple. Good to see minimum paper wastage. No carry case or shirt clip included with the IEM , so I am going to use this tiny black box as a carry box while travelling .

DSC_0210.JPG

Build & Design
Apple continued using their same iphone 6 design for 3 generations, why? , Because if something is good, it should be continued till better come off. Same as, few BQEYZ earphones share same kind of design but as the design and built is good, I don’t have any complaint against them. KB1 is completely made out of CNC machined Aluminum, yet very light weight. The surface is smooth and no sharp edges are there. No doubt it made to last long. BQEYZ branding and ‘L’, ‘R’ is present in the faceplates for easy identification. My KB1 unit is Black one and non shiny paint on it adding a touch of premium feeling. The half circular design is really great; they can fit in almost every ear. Very comfortable for long listening sessions too. Three air vents in each side maintaining the air pressure inside the IEM and dust grill also applied in front of the wide but short nozzles. No tip lip is there but don’t worry, tips not going to coming out accidentally because the nozzles are wide enough to hold them tight.

Cable quality is good, 4 cores nicely woven till Y splitter. It is a detachable 2 pin 0.78 mm cable with L type 3.5 mm plug, soft and no sign of microphonics. A small chin slider, Velcro cable tie and memory foam used for ease of usage. This time my unit is equipped with a mic cable, and call quality of the mic is decent and all types of in line controls working fine with my phone and DAPs.

DSC_0212.JPG


Source, Comfort, Noise Isolation & Tip Selection

BQEYZ KB1 is only 15Ω and very easy to drive , worked fine with almost all of my sources like Iphone SE, Hiby R3, Sony NW- A46, Cain N3, Fiio Q1 Mk2 & Audioquest Dragonfly .
Comfort and noise isolation is too good once you choose perfect ear tips for you. Supplied tips are good enough. Surprisingly tip rolling also changing the sound of KB1 and most of the time I have used supplied wide bore tips for this review.

DSC_0216.JPG


Sound
Driver configuration of KB1 is 2 dynamic drivers and 1 balanced armature. 10 mm dynamic driver is used for low frequency, and 6 mm for mids & BA driver for highs. But whatever they are doing it’s pretty much enjoyable.

Bass

As soon as I started listening, it was clear that Kb1 is a ‘V’ shaped sounding IEM. ‘V’ shape sound signature suggests emphasis in lower frequency and upper frequency. And yes the emphasis on lows can be noticed clearly. The bass is rather mid bass, sub - bass section is also pretty good in terms of quantity and extension. The bass is full bodied and you can feel the rumble easily in your favorite tracks. The whole lower frequency section is tight and punchy. The decay is fast and can go deep. Don’t uses narrow bore tips; it will reduce the bass section which is a sweet spot in KB1. The entire album ‘Daft Punk - Random Access Memories ‘is very much enjoyable with KB1. The song ‘Instant Crush’, with KB1 opens with a great slam and continues to deliver fast and tight bass, which is enough to satisfy any bass lover around.

Mids
Mids have enough clarity but a bit recessed to me. Midrange is crisp but sound extremely natural without any coloration. We all know that in ‘V’ shaped sound signature vocals sits too far but KB1 is an exception here, vocals don't sound too distant like conventional v-shaped iems. For example the track ‘dive’ by Ed Sheeran sound pretty normal, no sense of holding back is there. The good thing is vocals sound extremely natural and refreshing. The song ‘I Put a Spell on You’ by Nina Simone is one of my favorite and with Kb1 I am missing the texture of her voice but still sound much more cleaner and fresh.

Treble

The BA driver model is not mentioned in the box but for sure it is better than those used in KZ earphones. Another thing after trying few other BQEYZ Iems, I am pretty sure they using same BA drivers in all other Iems. With this BA driver BQEYZ played a safe game. Lower frequency is detailed, airy, and well balanced and sibilance nowhere near. Maybe those BA drivers have been chosen carefully to create Iems that suit most of the audience. Die heart treble lovers may miss the sparkle in tracks like ‘Special Kind of Love’ by Fleetwood Mac. Treble is much more relaxed and enough for treble sensitive listeners. This relaxed upper frequency also helps KB1 to be Ideal for hours of listening without any fatigue.

DSC_0213.JPG


Soundstage, Imaging & Instrument separation

Both soundstage and Imaging is surprising for such an inexpensive IEM. Soundstage is not super wide but wide enough to entertain. Imaging is good and every instrument can be clearly identified within the tracks. The track ‘Here comes the Sun’ from the album Abbey Road, where both guitars and vocals going side by side… you can identify the vocals in your right ear and guitar on left side ear easily. So for such a low price BQEYZ KB1 performed really well without compromising the soundstage, Imaging and instrument separation.

DSC_0217.JPG


* Snake Oil is real
Cables do improve sonic characters of an Iem and its quite noticeable with KB1 too, I have used an aftermarket 15$ silver cable from Penon audio and results are justifying the extra 15$. With this cables mids improved a lot. So a good after market cable is must for KB1.

Conclusion
Chi-Fi Iems comes and goes but definitely BQEYZ going to hold its ground for long for its superb built quality and enjoyable sound. KB1 deserves those 40$ and in return delivers good amount of sub-bass, natural mids and relaxed trebles. Kb1 is especially ideal for long listening sessions without any fatigue, so thumbs up from me.

Slater

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: -
1. Quality construction
2. Competent tuning
3. Impressive value-to-performance ratio
Cons: -
1.Some mid-bass bleed is present
2. A lack of a nozzle lip could allow tips to fall off
BQEYZ KB1

final01.jpg

Specification:
  • Price: $50
  • Design: In-ear, worn up (behind ear)
  • Housing: Aluminum
  • Colors: Black, Grey
  • Nozzle size: 5.5mm
  • Drivers: 10mm single dynamic + 6mm single dynamic + 1 Balanced Armature
  • Frequency response: 7Hz–40kHz
  • Impedance: 15ohm
  • Sensitivity: 105dB
  • Cable: Available with wired cable OR wireless Bluetooth cable
  • Removable cable: Yes
  • Connector Type: 2-pin, 0.78mm (compatible with 0.75mm)
  • Controls: 1 button control w/mic (wired cable) OR 3-button controls w/mic (Bluetooth cable)
  • Weight: 25g
  • Accessories: 3 pairs single-flange silicone ear tips (S/M/L), micro USB charge cable, user guide
  • Warranty: 12 months

Where To Purchase:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HLTLDBJ

Disclaimer:
Thanks to Elle at BQEYZ, who provided the new KB1 model in exchange for an honest review. And when I say honest, I mean honest. If I don’t like something, I’m not going to candy coat it (I just won’t review it). This review is my own, and does not represent BQEYZ or any other entity.

Company:
BQEYZ is a relatively new brand to many ChiFi enthusiasts. However, the reality is that they have been around since 2003 as an ODM for other companies. They only recently started marketing their own BQEYZ brand.

Introduction:
The BQEYZ KB1 is a triple driver hybrid IEM. BQEYZ offers it in 2 different configurations - wired and wireless. I am reviewing the Bluetooth cable version.

Packaging/Presentation:
The box is a simple black cardboard box with BQEYZ branding on the front and product specs on the back. Inside is a foam tray, which holds the shells and the spare silicone ear tips. Under the tray is the Bluetooth cable, micro USB charging cable, and user manual. It is a compact and sparse presentation, but perfectly adequate (and typical for ChiFi offerings at this price point).

Internal Design:

final02.jpg

The KB1 is a triple driver hybrid IEM, containing (2) separate single dynamic drivers, as well as (1) Balanced Armature. The 10mm dynamic driver handles the sub-bass and lower bass frequencies, the 6mm dynamic driver handles the midrange, and the BA driver handles the treble frequencies. The 2 dynamic drivers are arranged in a side-by-side configuration, with a tuned sound pipe running between them. The balanced armature is mounted in the nozzle (directly under the nozzle screen), and does not use any tubes or dampening resistors. BQEYZ uses unique balanced armatures in their IEMs, which I have not personally seen on any other ChiFi IEM. The output nozzle is copper, which helps control high frequency ringing. It is unknown what diaphragm material is used on the dynamics, nor if the IEM uses any passive crossover circuitry (although it is likely based on the coherency of the tuning).

Build:
The KB1 shells are made from CNC machined aluminum, with a sand-blasted surface. The color is electro-anodized (black or grey), so it will not chip off like painted IEMs. Anodized finishes, while tougher than paint, can still scratch and wear off if abused. I recommend using a carry case (not provided) to store the IEM when not in use, to minimize wear to the finish and maintain their long-term appearance. Each shell has L and R engraved on the front, so it is easy to tell which side is which. The nozzles are angled, 5.5mm wide, and have no lip. I had no issues with ear tips falling off, however I always prefer lips on my IEM nozzles whenever possible. The shell halves are joined together tightly and evenly, with a clean seam and no noticeable gaps. The back is not removable (ie no screws).

Fit/Comfort:
The KB1 has a kidney bean shape, with flat faces and sides. All edges have a 45 degree chamfer, eliminating any sharp edges. The fit is comfortable and sits flush with my ears. I experienced no hot spots while wearing the KB1. However, while the chamfered edges improve comfort, I prefer the totally smooth and rounded edges found on the BQEYZ K2 and KC2.

Connectivity:
The included Bluetooth cable is a braided cable (black color), using silver plated copper conductors. Bluetooth is version 4.2, and it also offers both aptX as well as aptX-LL (low latency). Many Bluetooth cables exclude aptX-LL, which is unfortunate because it allows an excellent low-latency experience when watching movies and videos.

The cable is soft and resists tangles, with pre-formed ear guides at each 2-pin connector. The plastic Bluetooth control box (located on the right side), and has a microphone and 3 control buttons (power/volume/music control). The exact functionality of the buttons will depend on your source and/or apps.

I had zero issues with disconnects or dropouts while using the KB1. The range is typical for these inline Bluetooth cable designs, which was about 10 feet of rock solid performance. This range is adequate when using a laptop/tablet, when your phone is in your pocket or by close by during a workout, sitting next to you on a bedside or kitchen counter/table, etc.

This style of cable is not realistically designed to push the extreme boundaries of Bluetooth's range (10M=30ft). The manufacturers maximize battery life by keeping output power as low as possible. My environment is a typical residential house in a typical suburban neighborhood (w/wifi networking and numerous other wireless devices). If you live in a densely-packed urban environment with significant sources of radio interference, YMMV. As long as you understand Bluetooth's capabilities and have realistic expectations, you will be fine.

Pairing was quick and easy, and all prompts are in English (ie "power on", "pairing", etc). There is a small LED that indicates power, charging, pairing, etc. The battery lasted between 3-4 hours between charges, but your results may vary depending on factors such as max volume and codec used.

Additional note regarding the cable: The included cable can be swapped for any 0.75mm or 0.78mm 2-pin cable (including other BQEYZ cables, KZ/TRN cables, etc). With an impedance of 15ohm & 105dB sensitivity, the KB1 is easy to drive using a cell phone or laptop when used with a 3.5mm cable.

Sub-Bass & Bass:
The KB1 has a v-shape tuning, with a focus on bass but without being exaggerated. Sub-bass has deep extension, and the bass is tight and punchy. There is some mid-bass bleed, however it can be eliminated with EQ.

Midrange:
Midrange is crisp and warm, and has a refreshingly natural sound with no coloration. The midrange is recessed, but this is expected for a v-shape tuning. Despite being recessed, vocals don't sound overly distant like you often get with some v-shaped gear. The mid-bass bleed is the only thing holding the KB1 back from having superb mids, and I hope BQEYZ works on eliminating that from future IEMs. This is not the only BQEYZ to suffer from mid-bass bleed.

Treble:
As with the BQEYZ K2, I really like the treble on the KB1. It is detailed, airy, and well balanced with the low end. Treble is bright without being harsh. I experienced no tiring or fatigue, even after long listening sessions. Clearly BQEYZ made an excellent choice with the unique copper nozzle Balanced Armature driver.

Imaging & Soundstage:
Imaging is good, allowing instruments to be clearly identified. The soundstage also surprised me - the large size makes this above average. A lot of IEMs have a compressed soundstage; not so with the KB1.

Leakage/Isolation:
The sound leakage and isolation is better than average. This is attributable to the aluminum shell, as well as to the vents (which are all located on the ear-facing side, vs facing outwards). Plastic IEMs and IEMs with side or rear vents usually have poorer sound leakage and isolation.

Negatives/Gripes:
If I could make any changes, it would be eliminating the mid-bass bleed, adding a lip to the nozzle, and rounding the shell edges (instead of chamfering). These are minor gripes though, and do not detract from enjoying the KB1.

Summary:
The BQEYZ KB1 offers an impressive value-to-performance ratio. It has a quality all-metal construction, comfortable fit, detachable cable, and solid Bluetooth performance (<10ft).

Those that enjoy bass-intense musical genres will be rewarded. The bass hits deep and hard, with authoritative punch. The warm mids deliver natural vocals and pleasingly crisp guitars. The treble is bright, resolving, and balanced, without overpowering the signature (like the treble-forward KZ ZS6). While the isolation/leakage isn't as extreme as the KZ ZS3 or ZS4, you won't have any issues when listening around others (unless you crank the volume to ear-bleedingly high levels).

Coming from the BQEYZ K2 (which I already owned), I was already thoroughly impressed with BQEYZ. They have (so far) consistently demonstrated a capability to make quality products with competent tuning.

If you are looking for a solid option in the ~$40-$50 budget range, I recommend these.

final03.jpg
final04.jpg
DocHoliday
DocHoliday
Great first review, Slater. I know I am not alone in suggesting that you do more if time permits. Looking forward to your next one (maybe the BQEYZ K2).
Otto Motor
Otto Motor
21 likes? That must be the record.
Back
Top