BQEYZ Summer

Close up showing proof of Summer


I decided to get this review done while the Sun is still shining in the UK. I have a shoutout first of all to BQEYZ. Thank you donating peoples of China. I would like to humbly remind people out there who care about my wealth and prestige; no sadly, this review package has not been sent with a boat or sports car or big ole gold chain. I am still not a richer man by receiving these - it's sad isn't it? They found me and they sent me these to get the word out - if it's not already out there, that is. If it is - welcome, you're no stranger here. If this is the first time you have heard of the BQEYZ Season range, where have you been? (Whisper stage left) - this is my first time too! Anyway, being no stranger to things small and pretty and shoved into one's ears - let's fly through this one - the Summer's not got long left!

Piezoelectric layer anyone?

BQEYZ Summer - an IEM, a hybrid job, and it hybridises Dynamic, Piezoelectric and Balanced Armature drivers. More so, this piezo is a 5 layer ceramic affair, so be assured of getting up into the audible threshold of a cat with the frequency response, which is measured at 7 (delivered by a 13mm dynamic using a couple of different materials) - 40 kHZ. 7 drivers - a well thought out combination, so a good start. The engine (the 7 drivers) is cased in a reasonably well fitting resin shell which has 3 concentric waves embossed onto each one. There is a BQEYZ logo machined onto the left and SUMMER lets you know which side goes into the right ear. The shell is concave along the entire inside diameter, rather like a huge bite taken from an apple.

A discrete chunk taken off the inside of Bqeyz summer

This reduces the bulk of the design and allows for a smarter fit, as, of course, there is a big engine to get in under the hood. These IEMs are sensitive, at 107 dB, despite having a relatively high impedance, at 32 Ohms, and are as easy to drive as most of my similar IEM collection at around this price level. The price? This is as per amazon.co.uk as of going to press.



A nice, soft cable, which almost shimmers, comes with the Summer. It is a 2 pin IEM and can take a detachable cable, which we'll come onto later. The 8 strands make for a heavy cable, for most listening opportunities the ear hooks are finished well and the weight will simply pull the shell a fraction further down the outer ear lobe and remain there. In short, if you're sat down, you have nothing to worry about. Mine came with a standard 3.5mm jack, but other finishes are available.

8 Strand Silver Plated Copper. Not too shabby Arty shot of otherwise sensible looking eartips

The eartips displayed above are the clears - there are darker ones supplied aswell. There are small/medium and large sets of each.

Being ware is to warn of escaping eartips. You now have been.

Beware! They are mounted upside down in the presentation case and are the darnedest thing to prise out, and then, of course, they fly off and head for the shadows and you can't find them! It only happened once (maybe twice) and it was only on the medium tips. As you can imagine, they were the ones I needed...Now - I preferred the darker ones; my thoughts were that they sounded "clearer" than the "clears", but that sounds daft doesn't it? More about that later.


What else is there, before we get to grips with the reviewing part? A fairly plain purple blue and white box with a less is more approach to presentation.

Here comes Summer

Opening the box up there is a false book inner which lets you know that you have made a wise choice in getting these earphones, so a big confidence boost there.

Wow! They know me!

Inside said box is a safety card, instructing you not to drive with these on; sensible words for sure.

Words of warning

The bottom half of the inner reveals a square PVC case and a stiff brush for digging out that stubborn ear wax and other routine cleaning and maintenance needs.

Shimmering shimminess

Build & Beauty


The finish of the shells is precise. Everything looks as it should and the quality control looks pretty much spot on. The fluted wave design didn't particularly grab me, as I hope it grabs you, because this, after all, a subjective opinion which places beauty firmly in the eye of the beholder.

The 3 wave resin shell

I get this feeling of familiarity with the cosmetics, and a slight disappointment that it wasn't more adventurous. The size of the shells is inevitably going to stick out slightly from my rather tiny ears, however the design has kept it reasonably well held until I start walking fairly hard and the effort makes my mouth and jaw flex and start to push the shells outwards slightly. This is nothing different to most IEM designs out there. Certain eartips will lock them in, even when down at the gym. They're not supplied as standard, but for those of you who need this info, you know where to get them. The case was the cheap Chinese one supplied with tons of cheap Chinese Gear, although this has had a mottled BQEYZ treatment, which lends it some authenticity. The case is better than nothing, but not very, for want of a better word; "Summery".

A case of mistaken identity? Surely I have seen such a case before?
The decals on the left and rights are ok - but again, I was left a little underwhelmed by the finish, I guess I was looking for something a little more unique to identify the brand.

The box - your prize awaits
These are all minor quibbles. I am happy for the Summer to redeem itself in the next, incredibly important, element of my inspection.

Sound character and quality​

What does Summer evoke in you? The word Summer; ahhh.... gentle, slow days, sipping cocktails, smiles everywhere, beaches, bbq's. The best of days. Summer by BQEYZ has a lot to live up to my friends! The Summer is not a cold earphone; of that I can assure you.


The bass


The lower end is thick and meaty, like a great juicy slab of Tbone on those hot coals that keep your outdoor event going into the warm murkiness of an August night. The signature of the Summer is built around an extremely energetic sub bass, mid bass, and every other bass department there might be. This stridency brings an instant element of excitement; if you like your bass to have width and depth then you will not be disappointed here.


Vocals


The voice is surprisingly clear and therefore easy enough to follow on the Summer. I say surprisingly because the bass will not be interrupted; not for nothing! But there you go, that BA/Piezo lot have muscled their way in to the mix, and very welcome they are too.


Rhythm Instrumentation and Peaks


Following the beat on the Summer made a veteran reviewer like myself feel a bit fatigued, in stock mode, with no eq applied. Think of it this way; at least there's plenty of bass there. Turning it down in some way should bring the rest of the mix more into focus. More on that later. I keep saying that, don't I?

Slinky cable shot
The instrumentation can be judged against similar priced product out there and it reasonably holds it's own, it doesn't do anything particularly wrong apart from being a little harder to follow than some of the models I tested the Summer against, particularly in stock, non eq'd form.


The peaks were a little peaky. With so much bass going on, unsurprisingly, the rest of the mix needs a little extra to keep it audible. I found the highs a little shrill. Some of the busier sections felt a little flooded with too much sun, where shade perhaps could have been the more cautious, but less exciting approach. Judicious volume is required for the Summer - this iem can be tamed with a few, simple alterations.

More boxing

How to get a great sounding BQEYZ Summer​

I suspect many of you have a favourite 2 pin cable, or, if not favourite, perhaps a cable that delivers less low frequency energy and more clarity in the mids and highs. I have an incredible Peterek copper cable that I just love. It took about 3 hours with the stock cable before I simply HAD to treat myself with the Peterek. Armed with a snazzier pair of Bermudas and I felt like I was squeezing a little more from BQEYZ, and why not? If you've got it, flaunt it! The beach body must be honed to perfection! Next up, I have some Spinfits. They have a better fit and are more leaner sounding than the stock eartips. My KBear Believe IEMs have been stripped naked by now, but I don't care! These hybrids need some help, and assistance they will get!

What a looker
Do you happen to have a slightly bass light Digital Device? The Colorfly C10 is my secret weapon for just such an eventuality. The C10 has a beautiful wooden finish, a horrible looking GUI, a mad impedance and won't even accept an IEM with a built in mic. With the bqeyz Summer is has found a perfect partner. Even with the stock cable and eartips, the sound of this match up had it all; timing, detail, separation, all in abundance. This is the best results I reckon I've achieved from the C10. It has finally come into its own.

A complement, a yin yang, a Laurel and Hardy
These are the tips I feel that produce the best possible results from these extremely capable earphones in terms of linearity and resolution; however, its Summer! Maybe you want to tackle a heatwave? At least for a while? For the time when you need to apply the after sun, read the above carefully, my fair weather friend.

Splash screen disguising dodgy looking front
The Supporting Cast


KBear Believe

Unbelievable
The sad withdrawal of these from the market has meant a lot of you out there never had a chance to see how good these are. There was some controversy surrounding the purity of the beryllium diaphragm. Rather than pursuing definitive testing, which would have proved economically unrealistic for a relatively small company, KBear felt the wisest choice was to stop making them altogether. The bitter irony here is that the title of the IEM certainly lived up to its name...

A photo of the case? My pleather
The resolution of the Believe is superb. I have customised it with the Peterek and the Spin Fit tips as mentioned earlier, and I am a great fan of this earphone. It is tough to fit into the sweet spot of the earlobe, and I'm forced to go unbalanced because of the Peterek cable's jack. The Believe needs lots of power to get moving properly; its a tricky feller. It is all worth it.

Plus a bit of Peterek
With all the stakes being equal (no eq, AK380, Peterek, Spinfits) the Summer cannot live with the stunning clarity of the Believe. The bass (which I know some of you will prefer on the meatier Summer) is leaner, faster, and extremely liveable over many hours. The character of the voice is in stark evidence with the Believe when compared with the Summer. There is no fatigue with the Believe despite the more evident micro detailing.

A bit more Peterek
With leaner equipment, the gap narrows wildly, so please, if you're into the lower end you must bare this in mind.


ACS Evoke


Think of the ACS as a mini marvel. They have an even leaner bass response than the Believe, they are tiny things that are almost invisible when worn and cut out huge amounts of background noise. They are extremely resolving, but the signature would take the newcomer some time to adjust to.

They're tiny but look big here
The linearity of these is way beyond the Summer on an even playing field, but everything must be right for them to come into their own; an AK380 with DSD files certainly helps bring out the best in these.

The wonky elegance of the AK380
Bring them onto the Colorfly and they don't perform against the Summer - they are a distant 2nd.


Shlouer Tape

Shlouer with more Peterek wires
The look of these is a winner for me, before I even wore them, I was determined they'd be great. They were, indeed, great! They're electrostat hybrids and the upper and mids are just great. The bass could be turned down a tiny fraction, but its not altogether too fatiguing. Against the rest, these were the best for mids. The silkiness of an electrostat is a great thing to hear, especially when its done well like this. The Tape was better in every department compared to the Summer, except when paired with the Colorfly. That was when the Summer came out to play properly.

Why won't companies copy this case?

Conclusion​

My efforts rewarded
My time with you this Summer is fading. I have time to leave with a parting gift. There are many of you that will appreciate what these IEMs have to offer, but you will have to consider whether you have brought everything to the Beach Party to appreciate what BQEYZ have to offer. The Summer will need a lean source, or a tweaked eq, and benefits from better cabling and better eartips, but who doesn't? It fits well, but active users will need to look at other, grippy eartips. I am pleased to say I have found a place in the Sun for these, and for one, that makes me happy. Tequila Sunrise, anyone?

BQEYZ Summer is a tribrid driver configured IEM specifically a PU+LCP diaphragm DD, a 5-layer piezoelectric unit and
a custom-tuned BA. A really outstanding and overwhelming amount of drivers in one unit that certainly speaks with a huge amount of volume. Unfortunately, the Summer is not as prominent as the Autumn and Spring 2, but this IEM is no slouch and can definitely compete, I am telling you.

Before we start here's a quick DISCLAIMER:

• I paid for this unit and got it from a friend. This is an independent review and is in no way affiliated with BQEYZ. Rest assured that this review will be free from any form of bias.
• No monetary compensation is involved on the duration of this review.
• This review are my personal observations, your preferences might not might match to mine.

Sources Used:

• LG V20 (ESS ES9218 Quad-DAC B&OTuned (Global Variant))
• LG V10 (ESS ES9018)
• LG G8 ThinQ (ESS ES9218p Quad-DAC Meridian Tuned)

I used the stock cobalt-colored silicone eartips since I find it softer and comfortable than the clear silicone tips which has a harder stem compared to the cobalt eartips.

PACKAGE:
From the package, the Summer is encased on a flip box that looks like a smartphone box, it feels sturdy and the IEM just sits on a foam. Inside are the eartips, we have six pair of silicone eartips
ranging from S,M,L. A brush for cleaning the IEM, and a faux-leather case. What can I say but, not bad, I guess.

I'll give the packaging a 5 out of 5.



BUILD :
The Summer is using a clear lightweight plastic shell. I would actually prefer if my friend had the blue one so it would blend well with the clear silicone tips with blue stems, yet, the black clear shell ain't bad.
I can't say if the build is that durable since it feels plasticky compared to the Spring 2 (matte aluminum) and Autumn (metal, did not specify what metal, but I think its aluminum). So far, I don't have any issues on its sturdiness.
I personally think the resin used is safe from any paint chips, and dents compared to aluminum shells.

So, 4 out of 5.



SOUND:
At first, I didn't find the Summer to have a redeeming sound and was dismayed by it. Over the course of time I was dead wrong on my impression on the IEM and
the longer I listened to it, the more I learned to love the IEM. It's very detailed, lively, and clean. The first time these IEMs went to my ears, I gave it that this IEM has a V-shaped signature.

Lows :
The midbass is the highlight of the Summer in the lows department, it has a punchy attack with good extension. The sub-bass is not that prominent, rumbles and some earthy textures cannot be felt but is decent enough if you are not that much of a basshead.
This is definitely not a bassy IEM. It is just extended enough to make the IEM energetic. I did not notice any midbass bleed.

I'll give the lows a 4 out of 5 because of its energetic dynamics.

Mids :
The mids are slightly recessed, vocals are average. Instruments are clean, higher mids are crisp and airy. I cannot say anything outstanding to the mids, its just average for me. Vocals don't have that natural timbre, but it doesn't sound too artificial as well. It's just okay.
Given the V-shaped nature of this IEM, I understand why I don't find any "wow" on the mids.

Let me give it an average score of 3.5 out of 5

Highs :
Highs are well extended and elevated. The details on the highs are almost on point that its very satisfying. Crisp, airy, and inoffensive. However, first-time listeners on the Summer might find the highs harsh due to its
elevation. That's how I saw Summer the first time I tried it, but the longer I listened to the Summer the more I appreciated how the Summer retrieves small details with excellence.

I'll give the highs a 4 out of 5. It's inoffensive, free of sibilance, and well-extended.

Soundstage: Summer has good layering, the space between vocals and instruments has a decent amount of distance and positioning. Summer is able to decently pin-point these details making the listener focus and target a specific sound.

Imaging : Summer was able to reproduce the imaging that is able to differentiate between this and thats in the sound spectrum. Summer is able to handle busy tracks with decent precision.

Disclaimer:

• I paid for this unit, with the help of sir Eiji of Euphonia Reviews and Ma’am Elle of BQEYZ Audio sent me this unit in exchange for an honest review. Rest assured that this review will do its best to devoid of any biases.
• The following remarks and observations shall be made and owned only by me.
• No monetary compensation is/was involved before, during, and after the period of creation of this review.
• Your mileage may (and always, will) vary.

Burn-in time: 5-10 hours per day, 4 days.

Source/s used:

• Hidizs AP80
• Not-By-VE Avani Realtek Dongle
• Zishan U1 USB DAC (AK4490 Variant)
• Samsung Galaxy S3 (WM1811 DAC)
• Non-HiFi smartphone (realme 5i)
• Local Files via Foobar and Roon, YouTube Music, Deezer, and Qobuz with UAPP.

IEM and configuration: Stock grey medium ear tips, stock cable, any form of EQ or MSEB off, 40-60% volume, both high and low gain.

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Sound signature:

• U-shaped, energetic bright sound signature. It will sound w-shaped on some sources. Controlled, rumbly bass, clean, clear mids, bright and energetic highs.

Lows:

• Lows are slightly elevated, and sometimes close to linear in terms of presence. Subbass and midbass quantities are almost at equal levels, with the sub-bass being slightly dominant by a very small amount. Decay leans to a slightly slower side of decay. Despite exhibiting a slow decay, the Summer managed to keep its bass controlled, clean, rumbly, and textured without sounding lacking on EDM or bass-heavy tracks. As a whole, the lows of the Summer are controlled, clean, rumbly, and can cater bass-heavy tracks you listen with it.

Mids:

• The mids are almost linear, with an occasional slight recession on certain pairings and some tracks. Its presentation is very clear and clean with no presence of midbass bleed. Lower mids do not sound too thick or too thin. Upper mids are elevated and shows very good amount of sparkle and air. Instances of peaks on sibilant prone tracks are present but are on the tolerable side when compared to the other bright IEMs within its price range. Overall, the mids are clean, clear, and airy with a bit of upper mids peak.

Highs:

• The highs are elevated and bright with very good extension. It also exhibits above-average detail retrieval as it the microdetails are easily heard and well defined on this IEM. As a result, the highs on the Summer can also please those people who are looking for a bright sound signature.

Soundstage, Imaging, and separation:

• This is where the Summer excels the most: its technicalities. The soundstage is one of the widest I’ve had and heard, with very good depth and expansion. Separation is also excellent for its asking price as it handles most busy tracks with ease. Imaging is precise and has a very good presentation of spatial positioning of vocals and instruments.

Comparison/s:

VS TinHiFi T3 Plus:

• The TinHiFi T3 Plus exhibits a thicker sound and bass response compared to the Summer. Both IEMs do not exhibit midbass bleed, but the T3 Plus has a recessed lower mids by a very, very small margin, like an inch or some sort. Upper mids on the Summer are much more elevated, sparkly, and airy when compared with some instances of peaks on sibilant prone tracks which the T3 Plus does not have. Treble is much more extended and brighter on the Summer, while the T3 plus leans to a more “organic” approach. Both IEMs exhibit very good remarks and performance based on their respective prices, but the Summer is better on technicalities when compared to the T3 Plus. I do have a finding that they share similarities on how they present their sub bass, probably because they share the same LCP Diaphragm as their DD material.

VS Audiosense AQ0

• The Audiosense AQ0 is much more bass-heavy compared to the Summer. It also has a great amount of midbass punch when compared. The mids may sound lacking in detail on the AQ0 when compared to the summer. Lower mids are slightly thicker on the AQ0. Upper mids on the Summer are much more elevated, sparkly, and can introduce some peaks on sibilant prone tracks. The treble is also much more extended and detailed on the Summer. In terms of technicalities, the Summer is slightly better than the AQ0, taking the edge, particularly on the separation and soundstage.

Pros:

• Nearly excellent sound quality for its asking price
• Controlled lows that do not bleed to other frequencies
• Rumbly sub-bass
• Clear mids presentation
• Airy and clear upper mids
• Well-extended, energetic, and very detailed treble
• One of the IEM that has the widest soundstage under 150usd I’ve heard,
• Excellent imaging and separation for its price
• Lightweight shell with very good isolation
• 8-core cable already included as stock cable
• Easy to drive but can benefit from a decent source.

Cons:

• Instances of upper mids peaks are present on sibilant prone tracks
• IEM design might not please everybody (subjective)
• Heat shrink ear guides are a bit loose on my unit, but may not be the case for others.

Thank you for reading!

Additional Photos:

Summer

Slightly less than avg isolation

Fit and seal are good

Color good but shell is so so for price especially compared to spring 1-2

Good bass and low end, much better than spring 1-2

Slightly weird sounding to me , hollow mids

Too warm sounding for me, lack of air

Relaxed smoothed

Mid and treble tonality are off

Mids and highs are nowhere near as good as the spring 1-2

Good sound stage

Good build but a step back from shell of spring 1-2

Dynamic Driver: 13mm

- Impedance: 32 Ω

- Sensitivity: 107dB

- Frequency: 7-40KHz

- Cable Length: 1.2m

- Pin Type: 0.78mm-2 Pin

- Plug Type: 2.5/3.5/4.4mm

- Driver units: 5-layer piezoelectric unit, Coaxial 13mm dynamic driver with PU+LCP diaphragm, and new version balanced armature customized unit

- Contents: Summer earphone, Cable, Carrying Case, Brush, Silicone ear tips (S/M/L)of 2 types of tips in different sizes.

- Price: $129



Pure Silver cables fix this iem, lowers bass a tad and brightens up mids and highs ads sparkle



Mids clean well detailed good

Vocals

Great soundstage

Driver coherence is good

Treble is sparkly smooth with good extension

Bass is good , thick with presence , overall warmth to sound to me pairs better with slight neutral cooler dac not warm and bassy

Moderator sub bass extension

Easy to drive but improves with small clean power

Good detail and clarity

Mild W or U shape sound signature

Smooth

Sources used during review: Hiby R5 Saber, Shanling UA1, Fiio BTR 5
Tips used during review: Stock Atmosphere Tips, Spinfit CP 145
Cable used during review: Stock Cable & Bqeyz Spring 2 Stock Cable (Copper)



Introduction: Summer is the latest tri-bird offering from BQEYZ following their naming scheme using various seasons, first came Spring 1, 2 & now Summer is here! Summer sports 3 drivers to cover the various frequency ranges, a revised 13mm dynamic driver with a liquid crystal polymer and PU diaphragm covering the bass frequencies, a second-generation balanced armature for the midrange and a new 5-layer piezoelectric driver handling the high frequencies. Bqeyz manages to offer quite a unique combination of drivers at a very competitive price of $130.



Packaging & Accessories: For its asking price the Bqeyz Summer comes with quite a standard set of accessories, the retail box contains:
- 6 pairs of silicone ear tips
- 3 pairs for “Atmosphere”: With smaller bore to enhance the bass performance
- 3 pairs for “Reference”: With wider bore to produce a more neutral sound signature
- Cleaning brush
- 8 core single crystal SPC cable
- A black semi-hard carrying case

The included cable feels extremely soft & light weight, it’s really comfortable to use for long listening sessions. The cable doesn’t get easily tangled up either. The included silicone tips are comfortable to use and don’t feel cheap, you can use these for a while before thinking about getting any 3rd party tips.

Build & Fit (4.2/5): The Summer is using an all clear strong but lightweight plastic transparent housing, there are two colors available: black & blue. Although my review unit came in the black color, the blue one looks simply stunning, especially in direct sunlight. I’ve seen a lot of reviewers complain about the imported resin finish, which might feel a bit plasticky but I personally don’t have any issues with it. The shell feels sturdy enough to survive a few drops, but a metallic finish on the housing would definitely give it more of a premium feel. Typical of the Bqeyz signature the shell has a very unique leaf like shape, which makes it extremely comfortable & light weight to wear for long listening sessions. On the side of the of the housing there is a standard 2-pin connector for the cable, you can choose between a 3.5/2.5/4.4 mm balanced cable while purchasing the Bqeyz Summer. A unique trait/offering of Bqeyz which other manufacturers can learn from.

Sound Profile/Tuning: The Bqeyz Summer is on of the liveliest IEM’s I have come across so far, especially when amped properly. It has a mild V-shaped tuning, with an emphasis on mid bass, sparkly energetic treble & clear natural mids. The best way to describe this tuning is a “fun & lively.” In fact, when amped through the 4.4 mm balanced port of a powerful source, I felt as if I was right there in the studio while the music is being recorded by the artist! Truly a transcendental experience.



Highs: (4/5)
The highs of the Summer are vivid, sparkly & very energetic. The highs demonstrate a good amount of extension with very good detail retrieval ability. Where most warm IEM’s chooses to smoothen out the treble which frankly, I find boing! The new 5-layer piezoelectric driver seems to be doing its job here brilliantly. The treble also demonstrated a fair bit of airiness at the top end.

Soundstage, Imaging & Separation: (4.2/5)
The soundstage of the Summer felt more wider than deep, but still not a “out of your head” kind of experience. I reckon the best part of the soundstage is its height, which is excellent for the price. The imaging is above average and executed quite nicely, where the listener is able to pin point individual instruments across the frequency range. The separation of instruments is also pretty good, they show good layering and detail.

Mids: (3.8/5)
Balance wise the mids are very slightly recessed of the Summer, highs & lows have more of a presence in the mix compared to the mids. Vocals don’t sound thick or lush but not particularly thin either, using a pure copper cable, like the stock Spring 2 one certainly gives the mids more a thicker presentation here. So, cable rolling is advisable with the Summer particularly for those users who are after thicker vocals. Female vocals sound sweeter on the Summer then male vocals do. The Summer also manages to retain a natural and clean timbre for the instruments, overall a good if not great performance in this segment.

Lows: (4.5/5)
Bass on the Summer is certainly one of its highlights, mid bass has a punchy and textured presence, with a good amount of extension. Sub bass extension rolls of early in comparison but can be saved with some decent amping, it has more rumble present at louder volumes. The bass on the Summer is tight, fast & accurate. It shines in some of the busier tracks and genres like Metal with plenty of bass guitars & drums. I did not notice any bleed into the mid-range or mid bass bloat.



Drivability: Regardless of any spec talk, the Summer is definitely a power-hungry beast! It scales quite a bit when fed with adequate amping, especially through a balanced port. That “right in the studio feel” I mentioned earlier or the better sub-bass rumble can’t be achieved with the Summer through your phone’s headphone jack or even through a mid-tier dongle you will need a portable dac/amp device or a very powerful Dap/dongle.

Conclusion: The best way to summarize Bqeyz Summer is with the title of the “People’s IEM.” As in its most likely to satisfy the majority of listeners who are after a fun & energetic listen and don’t care much for technicalities. The Summer is also an ideal choice and an easy recommendation for beginners who are looking to get into this hobby with a $100 budget. Considering the overall performance and the accessories provided, I think the asking price from Bqeyz is pretty easily justified.
Comparisons: ??? Right now, I am in the middle of reviewing Tri Starsea, BQEYZ Spring 1, 2 & Summer along with Fiio FH3, so I felt it appropriate to review them individually first and then do a massive $100 to $150 range IEM battle, to see who takes the lead! So please stay tuned, like & follow my page The Audio Bloke (https://www.facebook.com/TheAudioBloke) for future updates if you liked this review. Thanks!

INTRODUCTION:

All of us who are interested in budget chi-fi earphones must have heard about BQEYZ, pronounced BQ eyes, they are one of the most popular chi-fi brands in the market, especially in the sub $100 region. With earphones like KB100, KC2 and K2 they have a very good reputation when it comes to price to performance, among budget audiophiles. They have not been introducing a lot of IEMs, mostly because of the pandemic but they still managed to push out a revision of their most expensive IEM Spring 2, named as "Summer".

Summer basically is cheaper version of the slightly more expensive Spring 2, which had been one of my favorite IEM under $150. It has the same set of drivers, the only difference I can see is, this time the 13mm DD has 5 layers of piezoceramic coating instead of 9 in the Spring 2. The biggest difference is with the material used as the outer shell. Summer has 3d printed plastic body and comes in translucent black or blue colors and is priced at $129, $10 less than the Spring 2.

The biggest competitor of the Summer is its sibling, Spring 2. I will compare this with various IEMs for better understanding.

P.S. I would like to thank @Ellezhou from BQEYZ for this unit.



Specifications:

2. Dynamic Driver: 13mm

3. Impedance: 43Ω

4. Sensitivity: 108dB

5. Frequency: 7-40KHz

6. Cable Length: 1.2m

7. Pin Type: 0.78mm-2 Pin

8. Plug Type: 3.5/4.4/2.5mm

9. Driver units: 13mm Coaxial dynamic driver+ 5 Layers piezo electric + Balanced armature

9. Mic: Without

You can get one for yourself from these links:-

https://www.theaudiostore.in/collections/bqeyz/products/bqeyz-summer-triple-driver-iem

https://hifigo.com/products/bqeyz-summer-3-hybrid-drivers-balanced-in-ear-monitor-iem

https://www.linsoul.com/products/bqeyz-summer



PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES:-

Summer comes in a tidy looking retail box and a simple packaging style. This time around the box is longer. All the accessories including the cable are placed inside the bigger than average carry case. It has plenty of space to carry the earphon.

Even when it is priced considerably more than their best selling earphones Summer doesn't ship with a lot of tips. There is a set of two types of tips in S/M/L sizes. This time around these tips have narrower bores and different design.



HOW IS THE CABLE :-

Cheaper earphones from BQEYZ come with a generic cable used by many chi-fi brands but the Summer ships with an eight core upgraded cable. It is one of the best cables shipping with earphones under $150. The build quality seems very strong and feels good in hand. There is some heft to it but it is not bothering at all. The quality of the cores is very good. There is a nice layer of rubber on it, it is supple and doesn't have much microphonics too. The braiding is tight, not as tight as the Penon OS849 but is slightly tighter than the BGVP stock cable. I opted for the 4.4mm balanced cable.

Summer's stock cable compliments it nicely, giving it a premium feel. It is one of the best cables that ship with earphones under $300.

In their words this cable is:

"An 8-strand, 18-core single crystal copper silver-plated cable offers high-resolution signal transmission to bring out the best in your IEMs. The detachable design makes upgrading to even more premium cables easy."



HOW IS THE BUILD and COMFORT:-

Build quality of the Summer is sturdy but can't be labeled strong. Made with plastic these IEMs are lighter than the Spring 2. Thanks to the use of more fragile material Summer cannot handle a lot of beating.

It has a more ergonomically design to it compared to the Spring 2, Summer has a bigger inner wing giving it a more comfortable and secure fit compared to its competitors like Spring 2 or Tri i3 pro. The size of the ear-piece is not large and should fit all sizes of ears without any problem.

The nozzle itself is deep enough giving it a secure feel inside the ear. One can find three vents on inner shell, I don't know why three (one for dynamic driver, one for piezoelectric driver). T400 and T500 size tips can be used here.





TECHNICALITY AND MATCHABILITY:-

The Summer has an Impedance rating of 32ohm and the sensitivity of 107db. It seems easier to drive but it opens up with some power. Most of the mobile phones will drive it to louder volumes but will miss out on the stage and layering. Use a decent USB dongle like Qudelix 5k or Earmen sparrow and things will be much better. It needs nearly 50% more power than Campfire Audio Mammoth which has a sensitivity of just 94db.

Pair it with any source, it barely changes its tonality or timber, but weaker source are unable to bring out the best of the Summer. In any case it remains warm and crisp.

Summer responds nicely to EQs, if you think you need a bit more oomph, just EQ it to your liking.

HOW DOES THIS SOUND:-

The Summer houses 3 type of driving principals. I can make it out that the dynamic driver is for bass as usual but cannot put my finger what the BA and Piezoelectric drivers are responsible for. It seems that it has an open chamber design and the BA driver is placed in the nozzle.

Summer sounds more or less similar to the Spring 2. The uncanny similarities in driver configuration and specification are responsible for this. Summer does bring some flavors of its own. It emulates a warmer and pleasing tonality with a focus on mid range.

Burned for more than 100hrs, I am using the iFi Micro signature for this review.



BASS:-

The 13mm dynamic driver responsible for the lower section does a good job. It has a very good balance of body and rumble. It is more like a Ikko OH10 but smaller area of impact and weight.

The 13mm driver moves very good amount of air and the slam is punchy. Impact is very pleasing and enjoyable. It has a better sense of balance and dynamics than the Campfire Honeydew which in its own is very good but the summer has better control and hits a more accurate frequency without exciting others. The sub-bass extension is very good, in line with the likes of OH10. Mid bass is more voluminous than the sub-bass giving the lower end a fuller and meaty feeling. Upper treble has very good amount of energy and details. The overall size of the lower end is not huge but is well rounded.

Decay speed is very good, it is slightly faster than the OH10 and Soranik iON 2S. It is not fast like the BA earphones though. Even with the big 13mm dynamic driver the level of control is very good. It doesn't let the notes get out of character.

MID RANGE:-

BQEYZ hasnt mentioned which driver is responsible for the mid range but I assume its part BA and part piezo driver. Just like the Spring 2, Summer too has barely any dip in energy at the crossover region, assuming there is one.

Even it has a small dip in energy in the lower mid region the transition feels fairly smooth and has good details and energy.

If its up to the mid range it is nearly impossible to tell the Summer apart from the Spring 2. My last review subject, campfire Satsuma is a prolific performer when it comes to vocals accuracy and clarity, but the Summer competes with it without much problem. Vocal notes have wider base, slightly thicker body but a sharper finishing giving it a more detailed feeling which can give rise to uncomfortable edges. In general the male vocals have sharper finishing. Female vocals on the other hand doesn't have that type of extra sharpness to it, they are more accurate with body and edge definition. The timber is slightly warmer and notes are thicker than they should be. Summer has some of the best texture and details under $200.

Like the male vocals, instruments too have extra attack but this time around it brings better resolution and transparency instead of being less desirable. The upper mid range is not hot, it maintains good amount of balance and doesn't have more peaks or attack. The level of micro details and transparency is excellent and even a BA based IEM like Satsuma can't compete with the Summer.

P.S. To shed some sharpness, use a wider bore tip like whirlwind or the generic ones will do too.

HIGHS:-

Just like the upper bass to lower mid transaction, the transition from upper mid range to lower treble region is very good. There is good amount of energy and little to no disturbing elements.

The treble region has very good amount of spark to it. The extension is nothing special though, there is very good amount of energy until the mid treble region while the upper treble region lacks energy and sparkle. The level of transparency could have been marginally better. It has good amount of details but the level of micro details leaves a bit more to be desired. Thankfully this eliminates the uncomfortable elements. Thanks to the big stage size, layering and separation is very good with good amount of air between instruments.

STAGE AND IMAGING:-

Summer has a bigger than average stage size. What I like more is about this stage is, it's not intimate, most of the instruments are placed out of the head while vocals and bass notes are placed inside. It has the cleanliness and definition with most of the mid and treble instruments which we do not expect from an IEM in this price range. Stage in its own is taller and very good with Z-axis but is lacking with width in the X-axis. It still is fairly good and is as good as the more expensive OH10.



COMPARISONS:-

VS Campfire Audio satsuma:

Satsuma is a single BA based IEM with a more balanced and smoother sound signature and this smoothness robs it off of some extra bit of transparency and resolution which the Summer has.

The lower end is smaller tighter and faster than the Summer but the Summer has better texture and dynamics. Mid range is equally impressive but is more refined and does not have the extra energy of the Summer. The treble region is very similar in characteristics but summer has better energy and details.

VS AAW A3H+ and Soranik iON 2S:



CONCLUSION:-

Summer from BQEYZ is a revision of the spring 2 with slightly more energy and attack. It still reigns supreme in its price range. More expensive IEMs like Satsuma and honeydew are unable to deliver better details than the Summer. It is a budget king. BQEYZ is still the brand to look for bang for buck IEMs.

Summer has all one can ask for. It barely has a foot wrong. It has the bass, does not sound dull or less enthusiastic. It puts its best into energise thing. It's hard to complain, if you can handle a bit of sharpness, this is an IEM hard to best for under $150.

First impression.
The box is compact, with stylish printing. Presentation is at a very high level. Everything is neat, beautiful. The most needed accessories were put in. It is worth noting that the ear pads are of very good quality. The cable is soft, beautiful and of high quality. Shells are made of translucent plastic (there is also a completely transparent blue version), very reliable in appearance and impeccably assembled. Overall impressions of the package and presentation are very good

Now let's get down to the sad information and what's wrong with these IEM...this time you will not wait)) There are some nuances, but more about them later

Sound.
Having started listening to Summer, I immediately realized that I would have to listen to my entire audio collection, I very rarely do this with new headphones. At first, I was confused by the abundance of high frequencies (not sibilants), there are simply a lot of them, they are not crushed by anything and due to this they simply give out a divine upper part of the range, with all the layers, velvet, the smallest nuances. Oh my..., I heard new shades of my favorite compositions...it rarely happens, it happens very rarely.
The mids are crisp, precise and engaging. Bass?! You hear the bass at the very end. At beginning it seems that there is not enough bass...but after listening a little, I realized that it is there. Bass reaches very depths of my ear. No one frequency is no cannibalized, all frequencies are separated, the scene is wide, there is a strong micro-contrast, but I personally like it

The IEMs are clearly not basshead, I would class them as audiophile. The overall sound is a little bright, but this is done deliberately, in order to enjoy the music and open up its new facets. Drivers are very coherent, the joints are not audible, each of the 3 drivers (piezo, dynamically, balanced armature) clearly plays out its part, but at the same time they work as one friendly team

Summer is omnivorous, you can listen to absolutely all styles of music on them. But styles as heavy as possible can sound lightweight, but if you love the detail of a "chainsaw", not a "jackhammer", then you can safely buy them!

Now for one caveat, if you are sensitive to high frequencies, the Summer data will not hurt you, but perhaps at first they are a little shocking with the abundance of details in the upper register. Otherwise, these IEMs are a godsend for a true audiophile

If you're looking for new experiences and new iems, I highly recommend giving Summer a try. They are definitely cheaper than they give in return in terms of sound

They need a good source, at least a mobile Apm/Dac. Hi-fi player will be able to fully unleash their potential. They are also critical of the quality of the material (do not even try to listen to mp3, universe will not forgive))


To be honest, I will continue to follow the development of BQEYZ, they make a truly great product

I highly recommend Summer to the restless explorers of new sound. Thank you for reading to the end, I will go on to enjoy this little miracle

Introduction:

The BQEYZ Summer comprises of a triple Hybrid Configuration, 1 Dynamic Driver that is 13mm and has a PU-LCP diaphragm, 1 Balanced Armature and a 5 layered Piezo Electric unit. It comes in Blue or Black Colorways. The Summer's Trihybrid configuration was very promising considering the components as well as the price segment it is placed on. Basically Summer can deliver a very robust and impressive musical experience that can be synonymous with the 200 plus dollars tier iems available in the market.

Packaging:



The Box is a plainly design bluish to purple box and has a premium internal aspect that provided a great unboxing experience. inside the box you will be greeted with the following elements:
Summer earphones

• 0.78mm 2-pin, 18 core crystal copper silver plated cable (there is an attached cable tie on it)
• Leather like carrying case in grey color
• Nozzle cleaning brush
• Silicon Eartips

Sound Source:

I used the summer on my Shanling M3X, on dual DAC and high gain mode. As for the Player Applications, i was circling around the Hiby Music App with MQA enabled, as well as the Build-in Shanling App, and at time venturing for a Tidal Playlist via UAPP app. I used the standard ear tip that was included with the Summers', but eventually placed a 160 core cable in my later listening dives.

My Subjective Impressions:

Disclaimer: I tend to love warm sound signatures with focus on mid clarity of the vocals. you can say that I am a bit of a bass-head as well as a loud head, ramping the volume of my M3X up to 70-85. i also generally listen to alternative, punk, rock and classical music playlists. I am not an audiophile and my taste would tend to be a reflection of an average consumer user to an enthusiast level.

Bass:

Base my my listening dives, the bass is very accurate and very substantial to my liking. I can feel the rumble, the deep strums of the bass guitar as well as a very timid sub bass response, overall i like it a lot, it does not over power the other frequencies as well as it provides a more accurate and tight bass response. the strums of the bass guitars in every track is well defined and appreciated.

Mids

Overall Mids response are well detailed, very clear and robust, you can clearly and accurately hear the voices, the lyrics. The Summer provided great clarity and accuracy and clean mid response especially when you play acoustic genres. I liked how BQEYZ iems especially the summer gave emphasis on the Mids, letting the vocal actualizations of the singers shine.

Treble

I liked how the cymbals were very clean and clear, yet there were times that the highs neared piercing levels for me, but it subsequently diffused providing a near sibilant experience. The Highs really do sparkle especially on the end tones or notes of the songs. Its very Nostalgic and very Energizing to hear.




Soundstage and imaging

The soundstage is very good, it feels as if I'm inside a medium sized room with the band playing infront of me.
The imaging quality is very exceptional! I can clearly here and judge the different instruments playing, I can also at times
tell where the instruments are positioned.



Conclusion

The BQEYZ Summer is an exceptional IEM for its price range, the trihybrid elements gives off a unique and raw feel on the tracks I've played. Its well balanced and very detailed for me. I think for the other average consumer such as myself, they will surely love the sound signature and texture the BQYEZ Summer can offer.

BQEYZ AliExpress official store: https://a.aliexpress.com/_m0nRCLL
BQEYZ Summer product page:
https://a.aliexpress.com/_m0hHdpT
LAZADA Philippines: https://www.lazada.com.ph/products/...list.1.2d6045400rl7Yt&search=1&freeshipping=1

BQEYZ Summer

The seasonal earphone, is something not too many manufacturers are doing. Idea of having a different themed earphone for each of the seasons brings about some challenges in how the tuner wants to convey the sound for their audience. It is interesting that BQEYZ has done two iterations of the Spring and now Summer but no Autumn or Winter. I suppose most folks don’t want to hear a cooler or even a cold sounding IEM.

The Summer in theory should be about natural warmth with a vivid sound. At least that is how I would like an earphone named Summer to sound. If BQEYZ needs some advice on what type of tuning for an Autumn and a Winter IEM. I suggest something to do with neutrality and or maybe an analytical reference higher end tuning, a flagship for their winter?

In any case the Summer days are passing by and we have their newest earphones the Summer which sees sound tweaks from their Spring tribrid formula with some updated drivers that improve their sound design while being cheaper. A win and more of a win in my book. Granted their previous Spring 2 looked more premium due to the all metal design but hey this game is more than just looks it is about what BQEYZ is doing to improve their sound. The Summer is using an all clear strong but lightweight plastic housing, the color of the unit I received reminds me of them sugary blue colored kool aid drinks that turns tongues blue during the middle of hot Summer days as a kid.

Housing is lighter and probably where the cost savings was in comparison to their former earphones giving the savings to the consumer. They come in a smaller box with a minimum amount of accessories; two sets of silicone tips, a compact square zip up clamshell type case, and a good quality 8 cored silver plated crystal copper cable in single ended. The build is strong and light with such designs having an average amount of passive isolation. Where the value of the earphones comes in is with an upgraded BA doing mids to treble, a larger 13mm dynamic driver utilizing a combination of liquid crystal polymer and polyurethane composite in material for bass, and lastly a 5 layer Piezoelectric unit handling the ultra highs.

Thanks goes out to the BQEYZ team for the review sample, the Summer was provided for the purpose of a review. You can read more about the Summer on their official page on Aliexpress here. And purchase a set for you from Amazon here. The Summer has been burned in for over a week and was analysed using my sources Fiio M15, Shanling M6pro, M5s, M3s, Ibasso DX160, Cayin N5ii,Sony Zx300, Ibasso PB3 and IFI Black Label for amping.

The Summer tuning is not too vastly different from their prior Spring models it seems but more of a minor sound tweak and added definition based on newer drivers to their tribrid formula. I would describe the tuning as a mild V shaped colored tuning based more on clarity and presence vs the slight warmth of their Spring 2 model with an increase of upper mids, and a slight uneven increase of upper trebles for added sparkle and sizzle.

It does seem BQEYZ has a certain house tuning trait for their earphones which happens to incorporate fundamental balancing and dynamics but with an upper treble lift for better sparkle and presence. On one hand I can hear the improvements in their Summers but at the same time why call it Summer it could be called Spring 3rd. My point is if BQEYZ plans on doing a continuation of their seasonal earphones. You can’t have the Fall and Winter earphones have the same tuning with slight tweaks to the same tuning. I suppose that will be up to BQEYZ. The seasons are different and should provide something with more of a contrast in the sound like the actual seasons. Just a suggestion.

The Summer is a step forward in their tuning design using some upgraded drivers. I noticed their house sound always includes some type of treble sparkle and we get that with the use of the single BA and upper treble enhancement using a newer 5 layer design of their Piezoelectric driver. This is the only driver out of the 3 that might not have been an upgrade but in cutting out some of the layers maybe this was a cost cutting measure to use better drivers for the rest of the sound. Just a theory. It certainly performs more or less similarly as their Spring 2 for the design.

It seems BQEYZ loves to tune with a bit of a zing to the trebles. The inclusion of a dedicated Piezoelectric driver for their upper trebles means it will have a different tone vs the BA it is using for the lower trebles. On top of this I noticed a greater upper mids and lower treble lift vs their Spring 2 design to give better presence, clarity, air and definition to the mids area. The treble sees an upper treble spike to enhance the trebles with plenty of spark and shimmer, noticed more so with crash cymbals and upper treble notes end up being brighter with a bit of a thinner note weight vs the more BA treble tone of the lower half of the treble tuning. The treble sounds a touch forced, a bit edgy and not as fluid at times vs having a natural treble presentation.

This treble combo works to give that presence the designers are going for but at the same time this combo is not as smooth sounding as I would have liked. This contrast of tone in the treble highlights upper trebles even more so than just using a single BA or multi BAs. It is a type of coloration to the trebles to give some life and some sizzle to your sound and much like throwing on your favorite meats on your hot grills there is a lot of sizzle going on during hot summer days. So this is the area that might be the best descriptor for the given name. Folks that like a more lively treble presence might like this type of treble tuning. It is not the most even treble tuning but has good presence, extension, good detail, imaging and has plenty of sparkle when called for.

Mids of the Summer is even handed and has good presence with good clarity and here is the aspect of the Summer that sees a slight uptick in space and definition from their previous Spring models. Mids does a good job staying away from the more digitalness aspect of the BA design and sounds mostly natural in presentation with a slightly cooler tone which is the result of the more increase of upper mids from their previous Spring 2 design. Their Spring 2 had a slightly more forward intimate mid range presentation vs the Summers more even broader sounding mids that lends to its more spacious presentation in comparison. Its technical chops for the overall sound is roughly about average showing more the advantages of the BA precision for the mids. The strong suit of the BQEYZ designs has been its presentation of the mid range for their earphones and I feel the mids are balanced well and has a good fundamental technical foundation for its sound. Its tonal character has good note weight and sees a slight uptick in sound separation for a more spacious wider presentation giving even a more musical character for the Summer sound.

Bass sees an increase of definition as well. The newer composite type larger 13mm dynamic is a nice improvement from their Spring 2 earphone where I felt its bass while having good presence was not as defined as I would have liked. The Summer corrects that with an upgraded driver that is tighter, denser and presents a better tonal character for its bass presence. Its bass can show good emphasis when called for but there is room for more improvement in the area. Bass can use a bit more in the way of range. It sounds slightly inconsistent at times, nothing that is a deterrent for the sound presentation but I noticed bass range going from very light sounding to forced depending on what track it is like it is missing the oomph on some tracks and has plenty for others.

Photo shown with Spring 2 copper cable and the included silver plated copper cable to the right.

The bass end is clearly an upgrade however and it shows that BQEYZ has taken the advice of previous reviews and has upgraded the bass dynamic. I applaud BQEYZ for improving the one area I had somewhat of an issue with with their last Spring 2 earphones. The moderate bass emphasis sees a linear emphasis from midbass to sub bass and has good definition in the region overall. Bass texture is about average given the price level but it is most definitely a step forward for their tribrid designs. Bass shows good agility, average speed for dynamics and is most definitely an upgrade in bass texture from their previous dynamic drivers used on their Spring 2.

In the end
The summer days are slowly fading. We are seeing less and less sunlight with crickets chirping about for the cooler evenings and we wait for the inevitable Autumn season. The Summer earphones are a good step toward improving the BQEYZ sound. Beyond slight sound tweaks I would like to see BQEYZ create a higher end earphone for an autumn and maybe a flagship for winter. That would be something.

As they are the Summer has their house tuning down pat with an increase of stage, a clean tonality, good definition with precise imaging and plenty of treble sparkle. Leans more toward a cleaner fun sound signature which if you think about it matches well with the clean fun times we have during Summer times. Well mostly clean. Summer is a good sounding seasonal earphone that shows BQEYZs knack for a versatile sound tuning that will do your music justice. Its an easy phone to like with its energetic tuning, defined bass and a more spacious presentation. I appreciate that BQEYZ has improved aspects from previous designs and in the highly competitive earphone industry that is what it should be all about. Thank you for reading my take on the BQEYZ Summer. Happy listening always..

Greetings!

Today we're checking out the Summer from fan favourite, BQEYZ.

I was first introduced to the brand with the KC2, an affordable 2+2 hybrid that is still quite popular three years after it's release. Such staying power is a rarity in what has become a very fast-paced consumer space. Next up was the Spring II, a tribrid earphone that very successfully combined dynamic, balanced armature, and piezoelectric drivers into a coherent, capable earphone. It was one of my favourite releases of 2020 and the earphone that, in my experience, best showcased what a piezoelectric driver could do.

The Summer borrows it's driver configuration from the Spring II but comes in at a lower price point of 129 USD (vs. 169 USD). Where the Spring II featured finely crafted aluminum housings, the Summer makes due with a more lightweight translucent resin. The piezoelectric driver has also been changed with the 9-layer unit of the Spring II swapped out for a 5-layer unit.

Is the Summer a worthy entry into BQEYZ's product lineup, or should you be looking towards the competition? Let's find out, shall we?


What I Hear Piezoelectric equipped earphones prior to BQEYZ's Spring II showed plenty of promise for the tech, but failed to capitalize on it. Amazing detail and clarity, but also harsh and peaky. BQEYZ with their 9-layer driver kept the good qualities while more-or-less eliminating the bad, and it resulted in a pretty darn amazing earphone for the price. While the Summer shares it's driver layout, the downgraded 5-layer piezo simply isn't as good.

Tuned virtually the same, the Summer's ~7k peak is noticeable but I never found it overly sharp or aggressive. You get a pleasant sparkle and shimmer with plenty of detail, clarity, and spaciousness between notes. Notes also attack and decay rapidly giving the Summer's treble presence a very nimble, well-controlled presentation that is free of splash or looseness. Where things take a step down from the Spring II is in the smoothness of the presentation, or lack thereof in this case. The Summer's piezo lacks refinement and comes across quite grainy compared to the Spring II which is a disappointment, greatly hindering what is otherwise a nearly class leading presentation.

The midrange fares better with a nearly identical presentation to the Spring II. Vocals are warm and dense with a focused clarity that leaves them very coherent, even amidst overly busy tracks. Fine details aren't hidden. The Summer's bumped midbass region adds just a bit more warmth giving female vocals an even sweeter presentation. It leaves male vocals sounding maybe a bit too dense for my tastes, however. Compared to the Spring II, I found the Summer less resistant to sibilance. While the Summer doesn't add to existing sibilance, it doesn't negate it to the same extent as the Spring II does. Timbre is quite pleasing with a realistic instrumental replication. It's not dry, metallic, or plasticky as armatures can sound, but just right. Excellent stuff overall.

The low end is where I hear some improvements over the Spring II. Depth into sub-bass regions is similarly satisfying giving the Summer a solid rumble and plenty of visceral feedback. Midbass is still a little more robust than I prefer, but it fits in well with the overall tune and avoids coming across as bloated or bloomy. Where the Summer pushes the Spring II to the side is in texturing and speed. It comes across more nimble and better controlled, more easily tackling rapid basslines. Where the Spring II smoothed out grungy bass notes, the Summer better replicates them. It more-or-less nails the micro-details and provides a more dynamic experience.

Leading into the sound stage the Summer remains an impressive piece of kit with a well-rounded staging presence that comes across neither huge nor overly compact. It has no issues presenting intimate moments where vocals or effects need to sound 'in-the-head', nor does it struggle to toss effects well off into the distance. Channel-to-channel transitions are smooth and nuanced with great off-centre movement. I found it especially helpful when gaming, and it certainly helped with immersion when using the Summer for movies. I've been on a horror kick lately and a good set of headphones is either a blessing or a curse, depending on how you feel about scary stuff. The Summer also does a competent job of effectively layering and separating individual track elements to avoid congestion. It enables the listener to follow specific elements if they're in the mood to dissect their tunes, though these aspects are not class leading.

Overall the Summer is a nice sounding product. I'm a little disappointed at the graininess of the piezoelectric driver, but the improved dynamic driver performance is welcomed. The three transducer technologies in use are well-implemented and sound coherent which remains an impressive quality at any price point.

Compared To A Peer (volumes matched with a Dayton iMM-6)

Tin HiFi T5 (129.00 USD): The single-dynamic T5 has less bass emphasis with a more linear transition into the lower mids. It sounds less meaty, cooler, and more lean than the notably bassier Summer. The T5 comes across a bit speedier with similar texturing. The midrange of the Summer peaks just before 2k then slowly tapers down as you head into the treble whereas the T5 peaks around 2.5k then remains fairly even in emphasis until you slip into the presence region. These differences result in the T5 being considerably more detailed and crisp, but it comes at the expense of note weight and some realism. The Summer's timbre and vocal reproduction are more full-bodied and natural. Treble on the two is quite different with the T5's presence region bias giving it a huge advantage in detail retrieval and general clarity. The Summer pulls this region back in favour of a ~7k treble peak resulting in a more sparkly but distant presentation. Both earphones have a good sound stage with the T5 coming across deeper and more layered. Imaging is a touch tighter on the Summer, but they're both quite competent.

Overall I find both extremely enjoyable, though the T5 fits in more with my preferences for less bass and an upper mid push. I also appreciate the smattering of detail it outputs, though the Summer isn't a slouch by any means. If you prefer a thicker, warmer, bassier, more natural presentation, the Summer will be the better choice.

Dunu SA3 (139.99 USD): The triple-armature SA3 is a less bassy, more mid-range focused product than the Summer. Bass quantity is considerably less with the SA3's armatures unable to provide the same level of visceral impact and physical feedback, though they both extend plenty far. Expectedly, the SA3 is quicker and more textured, though I find it gets overwhelmed more easily on heavy basslines that the Summer's dynamic driver has no problems with. The SA3's midrange is elevated to a similar extent, but doesn't drop off after ~2k like the Summer. This plus a more reserved bass presence leaves the SA3 sounding quite a bit more mid-focused with vocals that remain prominent at times where they fail to stand out through the Summer. Timbre from the Summer is more accurate, but the SA3 does a much better job of reducing sibilance. They have a similarly thick presentation with about equal levels of detail. Treble is another area where the two vary widely. Beyond around 3.5k the SA3 really cuts emphasis, then brings things back a bit with a small peak at 7k. There's an almost 15dB difference in upper treble emphasis between the two. This leaves the SA3 sounding considerably more relaxed and much less aggressive with a dry tonality that only adds to the lack of energy. When it comes to sound stage the Summer takes my pick. Wider, deeper and with a less intimate default vocal positioning, it just sounds more spacious at all times. I also found the Summer to provide more precise imaging, alongside improved layering and instrument separation, especially at higher volumes.

Overall I found the Summer to be the more technically proficient of the two, and generally more enjoyable. That said, if you are treble sensitive or want something less v-shaped and closer to a typical “reference” sound, the SA3 is the clear choice. For everything else, I'd take the Summer without hesitating.


In The Ear The Summer trades in the Spring II's premium aluminum body for a lightweight, translucent plastic one, subtly enhanced with reflective metallic flecks throughout. The face plate features wavy ridges that remind me of Mazda's short lived Nagare design language. It was featured on a number of concept cars, with the 2012 Mazda5 being the first and last production vehicle to utilize the language. Even though it is plastic, the Summer still feels fairly substantial. The material feels stiff and dense. While light, it doesn't feel weightless. This all helps to ensure it doesn't feel cheap or compromised. Further adding to this is some excellent fit and finish. The face plate, main body, and metal nozzle all fit together tightly, free of gaps, misalignment, or excess glue. The 2-pin port up top is slightly recessed, though not quite enough to ensure the cable sits flush with the body. Overall a really nicely built earphone.

The cable is my favourite part inclusion. 8 strands, 18 cores with a nice tight braid. The tangle-resistant, flexible clear sheath does nothing to mask the silver plating and as such it has a very vibrant look to it. The hardware used is top tier and the same found on the excellent cable included with the Spring II. A compact metal, BQEYZ-branded straight jack is present with comfortable pre-formed ear guides that lead into compact 2-pin plugs adorned with clear channel labels. Strain relief at the jack is mediocre and absent at the y-split, but this style of cable doesn't really benefit from it anyway so no big loss. Lastly, the bead-style chin cinch from the Spring II has been swapped out for an aluminum ring and can be found resting just above the y-split. It does a stellar job of tightening up the fit when necessary and doesn't slide out of place. This is a fantastic cable, and just like the Spring II's, something that wouldn't seem out of place on a much more expensive product.

The Summer is a comfortable iem. The half-moon shape is similar to the Spring II, but ever so slightly longer and deeper, mostly due to a larger protrusion that locks into the antihelix of the outer ear. The angle of the nozzle is fairly natural angle, but also somewhat short. Those that prefer a deeper insertion or who find shallow insertion earphones unstable might want to consider some longer third party tips, like the Spinfit CP145. Despite similar ergonomics to the Spring II, I find myself adjusting fit less with the Summer. I suspect this is due to the drop in weight and added stability provided by the deeper shell.

Isolation is below average, not completely unexpected given the shallow fit and ample ventilation. With no music playing I can easily hold a conversation with someone, hear the snicking of key caps on my laptop while I type, and other ambient noise. Sounds are dulled but not blocked. Turning music on obviously helps, but in particularly noisy locations like a busy coffee shop, a bump in volume is necessary to listen to music comfortably. Foam tips certainly help with making the Summer a more suitable earphone to use in noisy environments and outdoors, so be sure to pick up a set if passive isolation is important to you.


In The Box The sky blue exterior sheath of the Summer's packaging has only the brand and model name on the front, with specifications and a small product image to the rear. Slipping off the sheath reveals a dark grey, textured cardboard box with BQEYZ printed in silver foil. Lifting the fitted lid you find a slender cardboard insert with a cutout showing off the lovely blue earpieces, safely nested in dense protective foam. Removing the cardboard insert reveals a semi-hard clam shell carrying case with an attractive faux-leather skin. Lifting out the foam insert, you find a series of ear tips set within individual cutouts. In all you get:

• Summer earphones
• 0.78mm 2-pin, 8 strand, 18 core copper silver plated cable
• Clam shell carrying case
• Cleaning brush
• Velcro cable tie
• 2x wide bore single flange ear tips

Overall a nice kit for the price. The carrying case is spacious but still small enough fit in most pockets. The cleaning brush is nice to have, even if you think you're never going to use it. The ear tips are of good quality but similar enough in design to be more or less interchangeable, at least in my experience. I would like to see BQEYZ replace one of the sets with something else, be that foams, bi- or tri-flange tips. Just a bit of variety for those who prefer something other than single flange tips.

Final Thoughts The Summer is another great release from BQEYZ, though I feel it is overshadowed by the Spring II given there is only a 30 USD price difference between them. The Spring II's improved build quality, considerably more refined piezoelectric driver, and better sibilance management make me feel it is worth spending the extra, despite the Summer offering slightly better ergonomics and improved bass quality. If the Summer was priced at 109 USD, putting it in direct competition with the Moondrop Starfield, TinHiFi T4, etc. it would be a much stronger offering. As is, it is certainly a wonderful product with a plethora of positives backing it up, just the pricing keeps it from standing out.

Taking price out of the equation, you get a good looking, well-equipped earphone with a fantastic cable. It is well-tuned and technically satisfying, and BQEYZ continues to showcase their tuning chops by making the three driver types in use sound tonally coherent. Other brands fail to match this coherency within multi-driver setups of the same type.

Overall, I like the Summer and I think it's worth picking up... if you can't spring [nyuk nyuk nyuk] for the Spring II.

Thanks for reading!

- B9

Disclaimer A huge thanks to Elle with BQEYZ for asking if I'd like to review the Summer, and for arranging a sample for review. The thoughts within this review are my subjective opinions and do not represent BQEYZ or any other entity. At the time of writing the Summer retailed for 129 USD: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002351172998.html

Specifications

• Drivers: 13mm coaxial dynamic + nine layer piezoelectric + balanced armature
• Impedance: 32 ohms
• Sensitivity: 110dB
• Frequency Response: 7-40kHz
• Cable: 0.78mm 2-pin connector, 4 core single crystal copper wire with 3.5mm gold jack straight plug

Gear Used For Testing LG Q70, FiiO M3 Pro, FiiO BTR3K, Earstudio HUD100, Earmen TR-Amp, Asus FX53V, TEAC HA-501

Some Test Tunes

Supertramp – Crime of the Century
Slipknot – Vol 3 (The Subliminal Verses)
Daft Punk – Random Access Memories
Aesop Rock – The Impossible Kid
King Crimson – Lark's Tongues in Aspic
King Crimson – Starless and Bible Black
Infected Mushroom – Legend of the Black Shawarma
The Prodigy – The Day is My Enemy
Steely Dan – The Royal Scam
Porcupine Tree – Stupid Dreams
Fleetwood Mac – Rumors
Tobacco – screw*d Up Friends

Intro​

First and foremost, big thanks to BQEYZ for sending in the Summer to be reviewed. Personally it’s my first BQEYZ In Ear Monitor (IEM) at the moment and frankly speaking, this particular IEM is quite appealing. It’s getting crowded in this price segment and audio companies need to deliver something outstanding if not unique in order to capture the market. Truth be told, the Summer is one of those unique (in a good way) IEM that pop ups every once in a while.

Sporting a tribrid design (1 DD, 1 BA, 1 Piezo), the configuration alone is unique in the price segment. The build is solid for a plastic shell (they claimed it to be made of resin) but to be honest they could’ve been better. The Summer is a fairly light IEM hence there’s no issue regarding comfort. I can wear these all day long. So, will the unique configuration of the Summer complement its sound signature? Read on…

Packaging​

The packaging is simple yet sufficient. Unboxing experience is somewhat disappointing due to the lack of accessories but putting that aside, it’s honestly complete to get you started. Besides, what are the odds that we actually use all of the accessories included with any IEM? There are a total of 6 pairs of eartips provided, 3 sets of wide-bore eartips and another 3 sets of narrow-bore eartips. The carry case however, is lit!!! With somewhat leathery finished that screams ‘exclusive’ and a very substantial feel to it.

Functions & Specifications​

• Material: Ultra-light Resin
• Transducer Type: 1x 13mm PU+LCP diaphragm Dynamic Driver, 1x Balanced Armature, 1x 5 Layers Piezo Electric.
• Sensitivity: 107dB/Vrms @ 1kHz
• Impedance: 32ohms @ 1kHz
• Frequency Range: 7Hz – 40kHz

What’s In The Box​

• BQEYZ Summer
• Silicon eartips (S, M, L) x 2 pairs each
• Carry case

Sound & Tonality​

The Summer carries a W-shaped sound signature with an overall fun and clean tonality. It is mostly balanced, slightly leaning towards bright sounding IEM with a very engaging high frequency response. Technical ability is somewhat mediocre at its best, but definitely a step up from the more budget segment IEMs.

Source Used​

Sony WM1Z (Midnight FW, Balanced) > BQEYZ Summer

Bass​

The sub-bass on the Summer is audibly rolled off. The rumble is present but really not that satisfying. Don’t get me wrong, it’s there but just not inspiring (at least for me). The mid-bass has good texture and engaging to listen to without ever, not even near being bloated. Upper-bass is clean and there’s no significant bleed towards the lower-mids. It’s just enough to provide slight warmth to the tonality. I would say that the Summer is a mid-bass focused IEM with a clean, fast and well textured bass presentation.

Mids​

The lower-mids sounds natural but the transition from the lower end is somewhat incoherent. This is purely nit-picking as it is not that significant to be a deterrent for music enjoyment. The mids itself is presented in a textured, clear and well articulated with good detail retrieval. But the forward mids might sound hollow, depending on the tracks. Now, the upper-mids may get hot and can be perceived as slightly thin sounding at times. All in all, the mids on the Summer can be perceived as clean and arguably natural.

Treble​

There’s a slight sibilance to be heard on the lower-treble, which can be fatiguing at times. The treble however is well done and sparkly with excellent detail retrieval. The only caveat for me is that it can sound metallic-ish. The upper-treble lacks air and rolled off on the extreme end. To be frank, the brilliance that it presents in this region is amazing and it would be perfect if it was toned down a tinny bit just to avoid from sounding metallic. But then again, the treble coming from the Piezo driver is what renders the Summer as unique.

Soundstage​

To be honest despite the slightly bright sound signature, the soundstage is average at its best. They are indeed wider than deep and throughout my listening period there has never been a single moment that I felt them as being too closed in. The best part of the Summer is that it possess a perceptibly good height in its soundstage, which is excellent for the price. Layering on the Summer is good enough to complement the depth of the soundstage. It’s not stellar but definitely notable especially when coming from more budget oriented IEMs.

Imaging & Separation​

The Summer showcases good separation throughout the frequency range. It was never crowded nor congested. The imaging that it presents is fairly precise. They’re not pinpoint accurate but enough to clearly distinguish every spatial cues. But both separation and imaging capabilities are limited to its height presentation. Despite having a perceptibly good height in its soundstage, it is also the limiting factor here. By that I mean they could be much better in this regard. They’re good but that’s just it.

Driveability​

These are easily driven by any source and scales very, very well with more power. Control is the word here. Everything sounds more controlled and refined with more powerful sources. But do be careful since they’re quite picky when it comes to the source’s sound signature.

Synergy​

It is safe to say that the Summer pairs very well with warm sources to add more weight & body to the overall tonality. Since I experienced some slight sibilance, eartips rolling might help to compensate the tiny sibilance issue. I end up with the JVC Spiraldots despite still having that periodically, tiny bit of annoying “Ss” and “Ts” but I just can’t forego their overall considerably fantastic treble presentation.

Comparison​

Shozy x Neo CP

The CP is a 3-BA configurated IEM with a very well made resin shell. Despite having an all-BA drivers, the CP is warmer and more coherent. In comparison to the Summer, the bass is more extended with more natural decay throughout, with more rumble too. Yes, more rumble. Mids are slightly recessed but more transparent and fuller sounding as compared to the Summer. Treble is where the Summer outshines the CP, and by a very good margin. The Piezoelectric driver used in the Summer clearly delivers a more revealing, airier and more engaging treble experience.

On to technical performance, the soundstage is wider and deeper on the Summer, and slightly taller too. The CP has a more closed in soundstage but they’re much more holographic in comparison to the Summer which makes them the more immersive IEM to listen to. Imaging and layering is better defined on the Summer while separation can be considered similar despite things can sound a bit muddled up on the CP at times.

For Who?​

I would say that those who seek to venture into more exotic driver configuration will most likely find the Summer a promising option. Despite the tribrid configuration, they’re just a slightly above average technical performer with some minor quirks in tonality and coherency. But trust me, this is just nit-picking. They’re absolutely worthy of the asking price considering what it offers.

Verdict & Stars​

With exotic drivers being offered in the lower tier segment, it is interesting to see where Chi-Fi manufacturers would take us further into this never-ending rabbit hole. The effort to trickle down all the fancy tech for more pocket friendly price tag is massively appreciated. At the very least, it is something different from the others. For the asking price, it will surely lure in more users to experience the exotic drivers configuration, including (but not limited to) the higher tier ones. Good job, BQEYZ!

4 Stars

BQEYZ Summer - Affordable Tri-Brid?



Intro

Prior to this, I have no knowledge about this brand at all other than their recent model which garnered a lot of attention which is Spring 2.
According to the manufacturer, BQEYZ stands for Best Quality Earphone for You. BQEYZ Summer is the latest triple hybrid driver pair of in-ear monitors featuring ultra-light Resin ear cavities, a 13mm powerful DD unit, a second-generation BA unit, and a 5-layer piezoelectric unit.


Specifications

Drivers Configuration
13mm Dynamic Driver x1;
5-Layer Piezoelectric DD x1 ;
Balanced Armature Driver x1
Impedance
32Ω
Sensitivity
107 dB
Frequency Response Range
7-40khz
Frequency response range
20-20000HZ
Pin Type
0.78mm-2 Pin
Plug Options
2.5mm/3.5mm/4.4mm
Cable Length
1.2m
Package Content
-BQEYZ Summer IEM x1 Pair
-Cable x1
-Carrying case x1
-Brush x1
-Silicone ear tips x6 Pairs(Including S/M/L -2 Pair Per Size)


Packaging

The packaging is quite minimalistic in my opinion, and doesn't bother me. Once you open it up and you’re greeted with the IEM itself and a storage case, good quality cable and two different types of ear tips.


*Spinfit CP145 ear tip installed for illustration purpose only

* Throughout the review i am using the stock ear tip which is the grey colored one.


Build Quality and Comfort



The housing which houses the DD,BA and Piezo is a plastic housing. It is lightweight and comfortable to wear for long hours. However, I would advise to handle the IEM with care as the shell looks like it will break if it’s dropped at a certain height.
I wore it straight for 3 hours+ without feeling discomfort. Though I can't say the same for the cable’s earhook. It is annoying in the sense it did not properly hook onto your ears, thus giving it the sense of doesn’t fit well even with the cable’s earhook. There’s a small fin as you can see from the picture, it does help with securing Summer on your ear. I did not notice any discomfort from the fin even after a prolonged listening session.


Source

Here’s the setup that i used throughout this review:

Tidal (MQA/HiFi) Windows 10 -> iFi Zen Dac (7.2c Firmware GTO Filter) -> BQEYZ Summer (3.5SE)
Tidal (MQA/HiFi) Iphone 11 -> Apple’s Lightning Dongle -> BQEYZ Summer (To test it’s drivability)


Sound

The reason why I opt for single ended instead of using it with 4.4 Bal is because I find that on 4.4 it exhibited slight sibilant and it made it slightly brighter and it’s fatiguing to listen for a long period. I put on the 4.4 female to 3.5 male adapter to run it on SE. I guess Summer doesn’t benefit from all that extra power after all. However, YMMV, this review is done based entirely on my setup hence i am writing the review based on what i heard from my own setup.

Bass

The 13mm DD used in Summer definitely helped to bring out high quality and quantity bass.
During the opening on The Weeknd’s Starboy, the sub bass rumble came alive, it is controlled and tight, not bloated at all. Mid bass is also well controlled to not make it feel too boomy. Not a basshead’s IEM for sure. Overall presentation is snappy.

Mids

Fairly detailed with moderate amount of texture. Female vocal sounded a little forward and thin as what i heard from Nina Simone’s Suzzane, male vocal has got more texture and less forward in Jeff Buckley’s Hallelujah. Despite the minor shortcoming, the overall presentation is quite detailed. Though, I would prefer it if it's more bodied.

Treble

As for the treble, it is impressive and the extension is good which is to be expected from the Piezo housed within. It is also fast and controlled. However, I am not sure if this is some issue with my setup, i had to resort to using 3.5 instead of 4.4 because on balance, the high exhibited slight sibilant and the sparkles are too much to handle, 3.5 solved all the issues mentioned. Trebles are now sparky and smooth with a fair bit of airiness in it. It also exhibited a good amount of details.


Soundstage and Imaging

The soundstage has got average depth and width. Nothing much to shout out about. However, the imaging is above average and impressive. Radiohead’s Creep for example, instruments can be pinpointed accurately and also Marvin Gaye’s Sexual Healing, the sense of progression between left and right channel is impressive during the opening of the song.



Driveability

Summer is quite efficient and not hard to drive. I have tested it on Iphone 11 with Apple’s Lightning Dongle and suffice to say, it is able to offer a similar experience as iFi’s Zen Dac, but it does offer better performance out of Zen Dac of course.


Final Thoughts



BQEYZ Summer is decent enough for what it is. A well priced Tri-brid setup, pleasant tuning which is suitable for wide range of audience. The cost of a tri-brid setup often comes in the form of coherency and timbre’s naturality. The plastic shell’s durability is also doubtful in my opinion, however the choice is made in order for the IEM to feel light and comfortable. At this price point for such a setup, I believe the compromise is acceptable and throughout the time that i spent with the IEM, i enjoyed them.

*Above written review is solely based on my listening experience and I wrote based on what I heard. I do not have access nor do I have any knowledge in operating and measuring the FR of this unit. I still believe that FR only tells part of the story about the IEM unless you really listen to it.

*Thanks to Elle from BQEYZ for this opportunity to review Summer. The review will be based on my honest opinion and unbiased view despite the fact that I was given this unit without having to return them.

Introduction
BQEYZ audio is the Chinese company that specialized in the IEMs, they are well known by their interesting tri-bird configuration, which has the piezoelectric driver been used. The Bqeyz Summer is the successor of the Spring line up, which I review last year. The driver configuration of the Summer is 1DD+1BA+5 layers piezoelectric, price of it is $129USD.




Disclaimer
I would like to thanks Elle Zhou form BQEYZ for given this opportunity, and the review will be based on my honest opinion through the music I listen to.


Package & Accessories
The Summer come with the moderate sizes box. The box has bqeyz logo and model name located at front, whereas the specifications at the rear side of it. There is the black box with the brand logo located at the middle after removed the cover. After the box open from side, the IEMs itself sited in the foam along ear tips underneath. There is the cable and other accessories contain in the carry case at the button of the box.








Accessories list:
1 pair x BQEYZ Summer In-Ear Monitors
1 pcs x 0.78 2-Pin Detachable Cable
3 pairs x Black Silicone Eartips (size S/M/L)
3 pairs x White Silicone Eartips (size S/M/L)
1 pcs x Cleaning Tool
1 pcs x Carry Case




Build & Design & Comfort
The Summer has well ergonomic design. The shells are in blue color with moderate transparency levels, there are also black colors available. The shell is made plastic, which is light weight. There are the wave design on the faceplate, with touch of glitter decorated. There are the branded logo”BQEYZ” located at the bottom of the left ear pieces, where the right side has a word “Summer” sported. There are left and right indicator located at the rear side of the shell. There are three vents on the rear side of the shell.





The build quality on the Summer is pretty solid. It is made with two pieces of the resin, which is the shell and faceplate respectively. The shell are well rounded with smooth curve. The drivers inside are perfectly placed in the place, and the wires inside are averagely organized. There are no shape edges or glue around the joint part of the shell. There are the metal filter to prevent from the ear dust. The recessed 2 pin female connectors are tight, and do not have sign of wear and tear after I swapped few times of cable.





The fits on the Summer is alright, it is on the thick side, and I find out the ergonomic design is just not fit my ears well. The nozzle has moderate length, so it can fit pretty stable in your ears. The isolation is average, and thanks to the vents there are no pressure build up after a long listening.






Technical specifications:
Driver: 13mm dynamic + 5 layers piezo electric + balanced armature
Impedance: 32Ω
Sensitivity: 107dB
Frequency response: 7-40kHz


Sound

Paring
I pair up with the stock cable and white ear tips, as the white ear tips sound clearer compare to the black ear tips. I run through my music library on the Fiio M11 and Topping E30.




Overall tonality
The Summer has a mildly U shape tonality, it is presented in soothing and musical manner, with a fatiguing free presentation.

Bass
The bass is thick and meaty. It has moderate levels of sub bass extension with moderate decay. The mid bass quantity is well balanced with sub bass and it is well controlled. The bass has average impact and punch with fair amount of rumble. On the other hand, the bass has moderate amount of texture and sound averagely clean. It is overall weighty and full bodies bass. The detail retrieval and clarity is average.

Mids
The midrange is soothing and musical, the tonality is warmer than the neutral. The lower midrange has moderate amount of bodies, it sound clean yet smooth. The upper midrange sound soothing and it is more pronounced compare to the lower midrange, it has moderate levels of transparency with good levels of control. The detail retrieval and clarity are above average.

Treble
The treble is smooth and fairly laidback with good amount of sparkle on the top end. The lower treble is well controlled and it is smooth yet well defined. The upper treble are well extend, and thanks to the piezoelectric drivers, the transaction speed is faster and controlled. There are good amount of sparkle on top with fair amount of airiness. The detail retrieval and clarity are above average.

Soundstage and imaging
The soundstage has average depth and width.
The imaging is slightly above average.



Comparison
Fiio FH3 ($129USD)

Bass
There are more sub bass quantity on the FH3 and it extend further, on the other hand Summer has more mid bass quantity with thicker presentation. The bass has cleaner tone on the FH3, where the Summer is on the lusher side. There are fuller rumble on the FH3, while the Summer has better sense of punch. The bass has more weight and decay slower on the Summer, where as the FH3 is tighter with better sense of control. The detail retrieval and clarity is better on FH3.

Mids
The midrange sound has warmer and fuller presentation on Summer, on the other hand, the FH3 has slightly warmer than neutral tone with relatively leaner presentation. The lower midrange sound lusher and a tad thicker on the Summer, where the FH3 sound cleaner with less bodies here. The upper midrange has more soothing presentation on the Summer, where the FH3 sound more lively with better sense of transparency. The detail retrieval and clarity is better on FH3.

Treble
The treble on both extended well, the FH3 has more relax tone here, where the Summer has strong upper treble emphasis. The lower treble sound smoother on the FH3, while the Summer sound a little bit edgy relatively. The upper treble has more emphasis on the Summer, which lead it to be sharper but harsher compare to the FH3 which is smoother. The detail retrieval and clarity are both pretty good.

Soundstage and imaging
The soundstage width is better on Summer, depth is on par.
The imaging is tad better on FH3.


IKKO OH1 ($139USD)

Bass
There are more sub bass quantity and extended further on the OH1, where as the mid bass has slightly more quantity and sound fuller on the Summer. There are better sense of rumble with cleaner tone on the OH1, on the other hand, the Summer sound lusher and thicker with tad more slam. The bass sound clearer with better control on the OH1, where the Summer has more weight and slower speed. The detail retrieval and clarity is better on OH1.

Mids
The midrange on both has a V shape tonality, but the Summer has a lusher and more textured tone, where the OH1 has clearer tone with less bodies in its presentation. The lower midrange has relatively more bodies and sound thicker on the Summer, where the OH1 has cleaner presentation. The upper midrange sound more vividly with more emphasis on the OH1, while the Summer is more soothing with fuller tone. The detail retrieval and clarity is tad better on OH1.

Treble
The treble extend further on the Summer with relatively brighter tonality. The lower treble on both sound smooth, but the Summer is bit edgy in certain track. The upper treble has more airiness and sparkle on the Summer but it sound relatively stronger in this region compare to lower treble, where as the OH1 is roll off early here. The detail retrieval and clarity is better on Summer.

Soundstage and imaging
The width is tad wider on the Summer, deeper on the OH1.
The imaging is tad better on the Summer.


Dunu SA3 ($139USD)

Bass
There are more sub bass and mid bass quantity on the Summer, the sub bass extend further and provide fuller rumble on the Summer. The mid bass has thicker tone with more slam on the Summer, where the SA3 has clearer and leaner tone with less bodies. The bass has quicker decay speed with better sense of control on the SA3, while the Summer has more weight with thicker tone. The detail retrieval and clarity is better on SA3.

Mids
The midrange has neutral-ish tonality one the SA3 with less bodies, while the Summer has warmer tonality with lusher bodies. The lower midrange has thicker tone on the Summer, where the SA3 has leaner presentation with reduce lushness. The upper midrange on both are smooth yet lively, the SA3 has tad more intimate presentation, where the Summer has extra sense of spacious. The detail retrieval and clarity on both are well done.

Treble
The treble on the Summer extended further win extra sense of airiness. The lower treble has more emphasis on the Summer, which can sound bit edgy compare to smoother SA3. The upper treble sound sharper with extra crispness on the Summer, where the SA3 is roll of earlier. The detail retrieval and clarity is better on Summer.

Soundstage and imaging
The width and depth are both better on Summer.
The imaging is on par


BQEYZ Spring1 ($139USD) The Spring1 share fairly similar BQEYZ house sound, so I won’t do the full comparison here.

The bass on the Summer is a improvement in term of the sub bass extension, tightness and clarity, it also provide extra sense of slam in comparison to Spring1. The midrange is tad clearer and more spacious on Spring1, while the Summer sound tad lusher and owing a more intimate presentation. The treble has brighter presentation on the Spring1 with more extra airiness on the top end, where the Summer has less energy and sound more soothing. The overall detail retrieval and clarity is on par. The soundstage is wider and slightly deeper on Spring1, but imaging is better on Summer.


Final E4000 ($149USD)

Bass
The sub bass has slightly more quantity and extended further on the Summer with fuller rumble, while the E4000 has more mid bass quantity, which sound muddier compare to Summer. The Summer provide better sense of punch and slam compare to the more the E4000. The Summer also provide better speed and extra tightness, where the E4000 sound less clear and thicker in tone. The detail retrieval and clarity is better on Summer.

Mids
The midrange on both has V shape tonality, the E4000 has extra sense of warmth and bodies carried from mid bass, where the Summer sound cleaner and more spacious. The lower midrange has more bodies and sound fuller on the E4000, where the Summer sound cleaner and clearer. The upper midrange sound more lively with better transparency on the Summer, while the E4000 sound duller and warmer in comparison. The detail retrieval and is better on Summer.

Treble
The treble extend further and sound brighter and more airy on the Summer. The lower treble has more energy and sound more engaging on the Summer, where the E4000 has darker and laid back type of presentation here. The upper treble has extra sense of airiness and sparkle on the Summer, while the E4000 is a roll off here. The detail retrieval and clarity is better on Summer.

Soundstage and imaging
The soundstage is wider and deeper on the Summer.
The imaging is also better on Summer.




Conclusion
The BQEYZ Summer is a well done successor after the Spring series, which take a slightly different sound signature, but remaining a well extend and fast piezoelectric driver treble. The Summer has really soothing and well balanced sound signature, with full bodies and extended bass, clean yet musical midrange, and fatiguing free treble with good extension. Overall, the Summer is definitely a good competitor in this price range. Thank you for reading, Happy Listening!!

BQEYZ AliExpress official store: https://a.aliexpress.com/_m0nRCLL
BQEYZ Summer product page:
https://a.aliexpress.com/_m0hHdpT

Introduction: BQEYZ (being an acronym for “Best Quality Earphone For You Zhou,” where Zhou is the family name of the head of the firm) has been steadily gaining respect for their efforts in the entry and entry-mid level of the ChiFi market over the past few years, first achieving notoriety for the KC2 and subsequently for their “Seasons” series of tribrids. The Summer is their latest effort in the latter series, featuring the same configuration of a DD for the lows, a custom BA for the mids, and a piezo for the highs — however, this time each one of these drivers has been upgraded to a newer version. The Summer faces some stiff competition at its $129 price point. Can BQEYZ justify its acronym with its latest model? Read on to find out.



I would like to thank Elle Zhou at BQEYZ for providing a sample of the Summer in exchange for my honest review.



Packaging & Accessories: The Summer’s packaging is unostentatious but elegant. Upon removing the outer sleeve, a booklet-style lid can be opened to reveal to us the IEMs themselves encased in foam. Underneath is a smart and compact faux-leather carry case, as well as two sets of silicone tips (dark gray labeled “balanced” and blue/white labeled “atmospheric”). Inside the carry case is an 8-core SPC cable with 2-pin connectors (the buyer has the welcome choice of 2.5mm, 3.5mm, or 4.4mm termination at purchase), as well as a cleaning brush.



The included accessories are certainly reasonable for the price point, though nothing truly exceptional. I did particularly like the build quality of the cable, which is quite supple and ergonomic while being extremely resistant to tangling. Unfortunately however the pre-formed ear hooks don’t fit my ears terribly well and caused some issues with fitment. The choice of two sets of eartips is welcome, although the addition of some foams or double-flange tips would not go amiss in the future.



Build & Comfort: I recall being impressed with the beautiful metal construction of the Spring 2, and unfortunately I have to say that the Summer is a significant step back from this. The shells are constructed from rather cheap-seeming plastic, and while this is perhaps justified by the significantly lower price point as compared to the prior model, the fact still remains that BQEYZ’s competitors are generally able to offer substantially better builds in the $100+ price range.



There are some benefits to BQEYZ’s choice of materials, however: the Summer is exceptionally lightweight and is morever also quite comfortable. There is no driver flex nor any vacuum effect, but as this is due to the fact that the shells are triple-vented the isolation is decidedly mediocre.



Initial Impressions: Having read in prior online reviews stating that the Summer is a bass-heavy IEM (and I am not a basshead), I initially opted for the “balanced” tips, the more so as most reviewers had stated their own preference for them. My first impression of the Summer in this configuration was, frankly, not very appealing: the sound was markedly incoherent, with tubby mid-bass, thin hollow-sounding mids, and uneven highs. When I switched to the blue/white “atmospheric” tips, however, the sound improved dramatically: in this configuration the Summer became a warm and easygoing W-shaped IEM, with decent coherence for a tribrid and evincing a quite impressive soundstage for the price point alongside solid technicalities.

The takeaway from this experience is that the Summer is an extremely tip-dependent unit, and moreover that different people can have drastically different experiences with the same tips. Patient experimentation can yield quite dramatic results, and is highly encouraged here even more than is usually the case.



Signature: As I mentioned, the Summer has a warm W-shaped tuning with emphasis on the mid-bass, vocals, and lower treble (the bass predominates, although with the right tips it does not overwhelm). The Summer is definitely designed for musicality rather than analytical prowess and critical listening: it is a laid-back tonality, evoking precisely a warm and relaxing sunny summer afternoon. It is suited for a wide variety of genres, although probably would not be my personal choice for classical music.



Bass: One of the chief criticisms of the Spring models was a somewhat slow and wooly bass, and I am happy to say that the Summer has definitely overcome this with the latest driver revision. The huge 13mm dynamic driver is undoubtedly agile, despite its meaty impact and significant presence. The sub-bass is a bit rolled-off (although it is not anemic and definitely has some rumble), while the mid-bass is clearly more emphasized. As I mentioned before the wrong tips can push it into boominess, though with the blue/white tips I did not find it to be so. Attack is a little more blunted than I would prefer, but it has a natural decay that gives some needed warmth and a natural segue into the BA-powered mids. Texture is adequate but not outstanding.


Mids: The mids here are warmed somewhat by the influence of the bass, and they are fairly detailed with a moderate amount of texture. I generally found them to be the most realistic region of the Summer’s sound, and are fairly neutral except for the vocals which are pushed somewhat forward — females slightly more than males. I did often wish for more body and heft in the male vocals and some instrumentation, while the female vocals were uniformly excellent. I also sometimes took issue with the timbre, which while good for a BA is still somewhat behind well-tuned DDs in the price range.


Treble: The lower treble is clearly accented, although (again, given the right tips) it is highlighted in an even and non-peaky manner which mostly avoids crossing the threshold into harsh or piercing. There is a good amount of sparkle, resolution, and detail, and in my opinion this is extremely necessary as it keeps the Summer sounding energetic in its warmth rather than coming across as merely dull. I did find the upper treble somewhat lacking in air, however, which results in a hazy and somewhat intimate presentation despite the expansive soundstage — an effect which actually is rather in keeping with the overall sound signature and I came to appreciate more than I expected to.

In my time with the Summer I caught no whiff of piezo flavor, with the timbre coming across as BA-like instead. This is quite an accomplishment by BQEYZ, though again it remains a step behind good DDs (cymbals sometimes lacked some shimmer and sounded too metallic, for example). Note weight could be too thin at times as well.



Soundstage & Technicalities: With the right tips, the soundstage as just mentioned is quite expansive for the price point, with very good width and height and good depth. Although the lack of upper treble air means that there is not a lot of space between the instruments, nevertheless layering and separation are well-done and I never heard any problems with compression. Imaging is generally good even if not pinpoint-accurate. While as mentioned the Summer does not at all present itself in an analytical manner, nevertheless overall detail and resolution are always good.


Conclusion: The BQEYZ Summer is a pleasantly and inoffensively tuned IEM, designed to present the music in a warm, inviting, relaxed fashion in keeping with its seasonal namesake. It is aided in this by its expansive soundstage and competent technicalities. For a tribrid it is well-priced, although as a tribrid it does come with the cost of some coherence as well as timbral accuracy. While the plastic build is rather a disappointment, the choice of shell material does have the benefit of keeping the IEMs extremely comfortable and light-weight.

Ultimately the Summer is decent enough for what is is and what it sets out to do at the given price point, though there is not much to set it apart from the pack — the price it pays for its choice of a mellow and laidback signature.

Intro​

Disclaimer: This review set is a demo graciously lent to me by Daniel at Oardio. No incentive was received and this review is written of my own accord and all thoughts here are my own. For more reviews such as these, do visit our site: perrivanaudio.com


The BQEYZ Summer is a pair of tri-brids containing a dynamic driver, a balanced armature driver, and lastly a piezoelectric driver. It’s a combination that worked really well for BQEYZ in their previous model, the Spring. Now we’re moving to the next season – Summer.

I haven’t tried the Sping 1 or 2. Hopefully, I’d get the chance to try them in the near future. That said, it’s good to be able to look at these tri-brids from BQEYZ with a pair of fresh eyes.

Accessories and Build Quality (Score: 7/10)​

Accessories are decent and they’ve more or less got you covered with all you need out of the box. Included are 2 sets of silicone tips. The Blue ones have a stiffer stem which I find to make the sound a tad bit brighter.

Build quality is a little sus for an IEM at this price point. It’s made out of plastic, the kind you usually see from in KZ’s entry-level buds. Not only that, the shells have some tacky glitter in them, reminiscent of the TinHiFi T1 Plus which I wasn’t exactly a fan of. Aesthetics aside, these seem adequately well-built and should hold up well to daily use.

The stock cable is an 8-core Silver-plated Copper (SPC) and comes in 3 possible terminations, 2.5mm and 4.4mm balanced, as well as the usual 3.5mm single-ended. The cable quality is mostly alright, apart from the ear guides, which are really stiff and causes the cable to slip over my ear occasionally.

Fit (Score: 7.5/10)​

My experience regarding the fit and comfort of the Summer was mediocre. The finicky ear hooks sure didn’t help at all. The plastic shell, though, was light and kept the weight of the IEMs down so that was a plus. However, the nozzle is on the shorter side so you had to find the right tips to help achieve a good fit and seal. The issue is that I find the Summer’s sound to be very tip sensitive. I eventually settled on a pair of foams so as not to lose out on the bass extension from the breaking of the seal. This also helps to tame the upper midrange and treble a little.

Sound (Score: 8.4/10)​

Sources

• SMSL M200 + Schiit Magnius
• Lotoo Paw S1

Music listened to

• Chicago Symphony Orchestra – Beethoven Symphony 7
• The Vamps – Cherry Blossom
• Stevie Wonder – In the Key of Life
• Bastille – All This Bad Blood
• The Lumineers
• Børns – Blue Madonna
• Paul Kim
• Dyan – Looking for Knives
• Andy Gibb – The Very Best Of
• Chris McClarney – Everything and Nothing Less

Bass (Score: 8.5/10)

One of the best parts of the Summer has got to be the Bass. It is punchy and fast, extends deep and most importantly, clean. Drums, both snare and kick drums, have a very nice texture to them that is somewhat multidimensional; both heard and felt. I really enjoyed the timbre of the drums and its coherence with the bassline on Stevie Wonder’s tracks.

The Bass extends well into the sub-bass regions, providing a satisfying rumble that completes pop and rock songs. I did not notice any mid-bass bloating or bleeding, and the separation and quick decay just made everything super enjoyable.

Mids (Score: 7.5/10)

The lower mids are a little recessed, which intensifies the upper midrange and treble peaks. If you’re expecting meaty mellow bodied mids then you would be disappointed here. Male vocals on tracks by X Ambassadors, Coldplay and The Lumineers sound and feel a little “compressed”.

Upper midrange and lower treble tonality are ever so slightly off but I can’t put a finger to it. Might be the piezo tweeters’ sound that I’m not used to. Listening to instrumentals confirms this, where Hi-Hats, violins have a little difference in tonality that I’m not used to.


That said, the detail retrieval and separation here is once again excellent. There is no harshness despite the emphasis in the upper regions. Listening to Børns, his vocals and synths are layered perfectly and shine through brilliantly in his album Blue Madonna.

Treble (Score: 8/10)

There is a lot of lower treble. This can be a little fatiguing when listening for prolonged periods. Don’t get me wrong, the Summer isn’t sibilant at all. It’s just the tonal balance in the upper midrange and lower treble just makes it a little tiring on certain genres. Nevertheless, the Summer does well in its technical ability and detail retrieval. There are tracks where hearing things I don’t usually do with earphones in this price range. There is also a decent amount of sparkle and upper treble extension, contributing to the soundstage, especially when amped.

Overall

Imaging and soundstage seem to benefit from some amp-ing. Or maybe the Summer is very picky with the source. It sounds a little more energetic and with depth on my desktop amplifier.

Comparison

VS Thieaudio Legacy 3 / Legacy 4

The BQEYZ Summer is in between the Thieaudio Legacy 3 and 4 in terms of price. Comparing the Summer to the Legacy 3, which has a current RTP of $100, the Legacy 3 comes out tops for build quality and comfort. In terms of sound, they have rather different approaches to tuning. The Legacy 3 trades detail and accuracy for a warmer, luscious sound that is richer and thicker in the mids. Vocals would sound meatier on the Legacy 3. On the other hand, the Summer has a more serious analytical sound, beating the Legacy 3 hands down in detail retrieval, especially in the bass and treble regions.

Taking it a notch up and comparing the Summer to the Legacy 4, it would still lose out in build and comfort, though it doesn’t lag too far behind in sound. I liked how the Legacy 4 provided a big improvement in detail retrieval from the Legacy 3, however, the Summer is no slouch and its ability for its price keeps it in the game. That said, I would say the overall tonality is slightly more accurate on the Legacy 4. However, it is worth noting that the Legacy 4 does get a little more fatiguing faster than the Summer as well (YMMV).

Conclusion​

I came into this review without many expectations, given my limited experience with BQEYZ products and a not so positive first impression given the build of the Summer. However, I must say that this has been a pleasant surprise. Right from the first moment I tried on these IEMs, I was certainly impressed.

The summer strikes a good balance between technical ability and having an engaging sound. It has a really enjoyable bass performance that is technically capable yet dynamic as well. This is a very well-done V-shaped sound signature earphone and exceeds what’s expected of it at its price point.

Overall Grade: B+​

Click HERE for our grading list for earphones

INTRODUCTION:

BQEYZ is an audio brand based in china produces a wide variety of high quality earphones and of course their brand name stands for “BEST QUALITY EARPHONES FOR YOU”. Dongguan Xianchao acoustics technology co., LTD is an audio factory processing from materials to final products. The company has more than 20 years of experience in the audio industry.

They have variety of earphones ranging from budget to high end audiophile grade. Their flagship is the Spring 2 which has separate fan base for its tonality, mid section and detail retrieval. Following the same driver configuration with cheaper price tag the brand decided to release an earphone naming the SUMMER and in this review let’s see whether the sibling summer lives up to its ancestor.

DISCLAIMER:

This unit is provided to me by Elle Zhou Mam from BQEYZ Audio in exchange of my honest unbiased review on the product. I have not been influenced by the brand in any ways to produce this review.

SPECIFICATIONS:

DRIVERS: 13MM Coaxial Dynamic Driver + 5 layer Piezo Electric + Balanced Armature

SENSITIVITY: 107Db

IMPEDANCE: 32Ohms

FREQUENCY: 7-40KHZ

PIN TYPE: 0.78MM 2Pin

The coaxial dynamic driver has the newly improved PU+LCP diaphragm which is an upgraded driver from the spring 2 and expected to deliver better than the spring 2.

PACKAGING:

The box is simple and minimalistic. The box is covered by a outer sleeve which is lavender coloured with the summer leaves photo on the side of the sleeve which looked exquisite and gave a warm welcome to the user.

After opening the sleeve there is a black slip on box with the brand name printed in silver colour which is another minimalistic sign. The slip on mechanism is actually amazed me where there is a slot prepared accurately which sits snug onto the box. Inside the box there are earpieces, a hard zipper carry case which again looked premium, grey coloured with brand name on it. Inside the case there is the cable and a brush for cleaning the nozzle. Underneath these contents there are the 6 pairs of ear tips of S, M, L sizes. 3 pairs are black coloured and the other 3 pairs are blue/white coloured as same as the spring 2 tips. The blue tips are really comfy and provides nice fit and the brand should include this same ear tip in future earphones too.

BUILD AND DESIGN:

After all these premium things observed in the package, the construction of the earphone underwhelms you. It’s made of resin! For this price a consumer would definitely expect a metal or aluminium build but BQEYZ went with the transparent resin. This really affected the premium feel of the earphone even though they are light weight. They are available in two colours namely blue and black. Since its being a transparent body the drivers can be seen clearly especially in the blue one where it’s subtle in the black one. Even if it’s a plastic the finishing is done well where there is no cut and crease found near the faceplate and the body. The branding is done on the side of the earpieces with 3 pressure vents on the inner surface. The L and R markings are imprinted onto the ear pieces rather than the stickers which look nice.

Even though they are made of plastic the three drivers inside the earpiece gave the slight heft to the body which added the premium feel while handling it. The faceplate has leaves pattern and when the light hits there is an appearance of starry sky which starts glittering.

The cable is an 8 strand, 18 core single crystal copper silver – plated offering high-resolution signal transmission to bring out the best in the earphone. Thankfully the cable doesn’t get tangled easily even after smashing the earphones within the pouch.

FIT:

The fit is nice and seal depends upon the ear tips you use. I used the medium sized blue ear tips and provide good enough seal with no pain even after longer listening periods. There is a fin provided in the earpiece which seats nice in the ear and is comfort enough.

SOUND:

Source Used: iPhone Xr + FiiO Q3

The summer earphone is easily driveable so even with smart phone inbuilt DAC they sound great. They didn’t get scale to any high extent even with amp so that’s a good user friendly experience.

BASS:

In a single word if I want to describe the summer bass response is ACCURATE. There is no boomy or muffled bass, just accurate. There is more mid bass emphasis compared to the sub bass which gives enough body and warmth to the low mid section.

The sub bass has enough depth and extension with adequate rumble. It’s not bass head approved but sounds very adequate and accurate. My nitpicking gripe would be an extra rumble in the low end but hey! They tuned this exceptionally well to meet the need of an audiophile.

Tracks Used:

• Even Heaven – Aimer
• Royals – Pure Heroine (Lorde)
• Battling Musk Ox – Jacob Shea
• What are you going to do when you are not saving the world? – Hans Zimmer
• Why so serious – Hans Zimmer

The bass has nice definition and is relaxed in nature. The bass is tight and under control. Even in the busier tracks they were able to bring out enough details. The resolution might be not good enough but it’s definitely nice. The coaxial 12mm Dynamic driver is responsible for this low end and that PU+LCP diaphragm really does a great job in delivering the low end.

For my liking I would like the sub bass rumble to be even good but that’s just me. Overall the articulation of the bass is done well with control and texture. If that extra sub bass rumble had been done it would have been my favourite low end experience.

MIDS:

Holy Molly! SWEET! The vocal sounds absolutely gorgeous here. Both the male and female vocals are brought forward with nice tonality and timbre. These are tuned exceptionally well in the mid section. They have used their own customised Balanced Armature driver to deliver the mids and I just loved it.

The mid section is very energetic and engaging. It’s been a long time since I heard to this type of energetic earphone and I’m just reliving it. They have full energy and just bring the mid section in front and engage us in the pleasant mood.

The timbre is exceptionally well considering there’s a BA driver. The tonality is superb with excellent layering in the background. Especially in the song CARDIGAN – TAYLOR SWIFT (FOLKLORE) where in the starting there will be a lot of backbeats going on in the background while the Taylor swift sings. Summer is able to clearly separate out the beats from the vocals and can maintain the distance between the vocals and the beats which is sweet thus proving that layering is exceptionally good in the summer. Thanks the customised BA driver.

Tracks Used:

• Believe in life – Eric Clapton
• Sexual Healing – Marvin Gaye
• Capsize – FRENSHIP
• When you say nothing at all – Susan Wong

I’m very impressed with the mid performance. The vocals, background instruments, piano everything just sounds natural and accurate. The tonality and timbre is very nice if not the best. That mid bass helped the body and providing fullness to the overall sound.

HIGH:

The 5 layer Piezo electric driver delivers the nice extended highs with nice detail retrieval. The guitar strings sounds very nice and beautiful. To accompany the excellent mid section and the bass response the high are near to free in terms of sibilance and harshness. During my period of listening they sounded smooth and nice with good enough detail retrieval. The resolution in the high department is done well compared to the low end.

During initial listening period there is some slight hint of sibilance in female vocals but later after burn in period it got a lot smoother with nice extension.

Tracks Used:

• You shook Me – Led Zeppelin – The electric guitar sounds nice and without harshness. Overall they sounded nice and smooth with nice extension
• Sultans of swing – Dire Straits
• Stand by me – Liam Gallagher – The acoustic guitar strikes natural and sounds very pleasant. The piezo highs are always nice to listen where they extend very well without any harshness.

SOUNDSTAGE AND IMAGING:

The soundstage is expansive in the sense of width when compared to height and depth. The instruments are spread out well with enough distance and have good sense of space within the instruments.

Tracks Used:

• Global Gear (Instrumental) – Punya Srinivas
• Hideaway – Jacob Collier
• Crossing – Yosi Horikawa

VERDICT:

The BQEYZ SUMMER which shares the similar components of spring 2 in a cheaper price tag is just a NO BRAINER! The summer has one of the best mid range performance as far as I know in this price range. The Piezo highs sounds very nice combined with the tight and under control relaxed bass response with the energetic and engaging mids makes this pair a very delicious recipe for the price.

Of course the build could have been better to provide that extra premium (the resin is sturdy enough though!) Feel but BQEYZ invested all their cash in to the internal organs to make it sound the best in the price range which is a welcome gesture to me.

Overall I would pick the summer as my daily driver any day without any hesitation. Under 130 USD this is going to be my NO: 01 recommendation. Whatever genres you may listen, the summer just excels and it is what it has been taught and been tuned!

Disclaimer
This product was supplied as a review unit by Lu Xinyi from BQEYZ via Amazon.co.uk. Product link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Earphones-Isolating-Balanced-Sounding-Detachable-Black/dp/B08ZD5GGQZ

Introduction
The BQEYZ Summer is the latest development of the triple hybrid design previously seen in the Spring and Spring 2 models. The drivers in the Summer are all new and comprise a revised 13mm dynamic driver with a liquid crystal polymer and PU diaphragm covering the bass frequencies, a second generation balanced armature for the midrange and a new 5-layer piezoelectric unit handling the high frequencies. These drivers are housed in a new resin shell instead of the metal one in the Spring models.

Description
The Summer comes attractively presented in a chunky rectangular box with a printed slip cover. The front features the name "Summer" in a simple font on a blue background and a BQEYZ logo in the top left corner. The reverse has an image of the IEMs and a list of specifications. Removing the cover reveals a simple black box with a silver BQEYZ logo, which opens like a book. Inside, the IEMs are displayed in a foam cut-out in a card insert and under this there is a square carrying case containing the accessories. In a further layer below are stored the spare ear tips. In all the package includes:

* Summer IEMs
* 8 core single crystal SPC cable
* 3 pairs "reference" tips (grey)
* 3 pairs "bass" tips (white with blue bore)
* Zipped carrying case
* Cleaning brush
* Velcro cable tie
* Documentation

The package is quite generous although perhaps some foam tips could have been included.

The IEMs themselves are formed from a smoothly contoured resin with an attractive wave-like pattern on the faceplate. They are shaped somewhat like a leaf and are available in two colours, blue and black; I received the black colour which is in fact a dark purple with silver sparkles and looks very good. There is a small circular vent for the dynamic driver on the top surface near the silver-coloured metal nozzle. The left earpiece features BQEYZ branding and the right earpiece has "summer" written in a white font. The 2-pin sockets are flush with the surface and take a standard connector (not Type C).

The 8-core silver-plated cable is of very good quality and is supple and the ear guides are not too tightly curved. There is a straight metal 3.5 plug and a metal Y-split with BQEYZ branding and a sliding ring serves as a chin slider. The metal 2-pin plugs have channel identification.

The Summer was tested using the stock cable and medium "reference" tips which provided an excellent fit and seal and the earpieces were light and comfortable. An Xduoo X20 DAP was used as the source and a burn-in period of 100 hours was carried out. Adequate volume was achieved without augmentation, but extra power resulted in a tighter, more focused delivery. I found an amplifier with a more neutral sound was preferable and chose a Topping NX1a rather than the Fiio A5 which has a warmer sound.

First Impressions
The Summer displayed a warm, well-balanced mild W or U-shaped profile with high resolution and expansive staging. Bass was deep, firm and well-textured. The midrange was clear and nicely detailed and the extended treble was a notable feature, courtesy of the well-tuned piezo driver. The musical quality of the reproduction was an outstanding feature and music was displayed in a bold "cinematic" fashion.

Bass
The bass was fairly well extended but there was a bit of roll off in the lowest frequencies and a little more rumble would have been welcome. There was a smooth transition into the mid-bass which was somewhat elevated but had plenty of impact and was lively and entertaining. There was a small amount of bleed into the midrange which endowed that region with a bit of warmth and the mid bass did sometimes become dominant.

"Fantasy Passages" is an electronic soundscape by Jonn Serrie from the album "And the stars go with you". It begins with sound effects evoking outer space and includes some extremely deep sub-bass tones. The Summer reproduced these well with good depth and power and free of distortion. The piece then opens out into a joyful anthemic melody with sparkly treble underpinned by deep bass drones. The effect was very atmospheric.

"Anime" is the fourth movement of Jacques Ibert's colourful suite, "Escales" (Ports of Call). It features all the instruments of the orchestra in a varied and lively performance. The version by the Minnesota Orchestra under Eiji Oue features a prominent bass drum. The power and impact of the drum was cleanly conveyed by the Summer with a realistic ambience and decay and the experience of a large orchestra in full flight was beautifully presented. The overall impression was, perhaps, somewhat over-romanticised.

"Welcome to the Machine" by Pink Floyd begins with mechanical sound effects and a deep pulsing bass motif. This was powerfully portrayed by the Summer and when contrasted by the incisive guitar chords, produced a thrilling effect. The foreboding and slightly menacing atmosphere of the piece was authentically preserved.

Midrange
The Summer's midrange possessed a very good natural timbre from the proprietary BA unit. There was plenty of detail and little harshness. The lower region received some warmth from the bass but in general the tonality was natural and smooth.

"Keltic Lament" by John Foulds begins with a duet for cello and harp playing a beautiful melody. In the version by the City of Birmingham Symphony under Sakari Oramo, the timbre of the two instruments was very believable with an attractive "bloom" deriving from the bass influence. When the full orchestra repeated the theme later in the piece there was a wonderful swell to the sound and great dynamic range but it was maybe just a little larger than life!

Benny Anderson's "Piano" is an album of instrumental versions of his compositions. "Thank you for the music" is arranged in an entertaining ragtime style reminiscent of Scott Joplin and it is performed with verve and humour. His Fazioli instrument is placed in a resonant acoustic and the details of the piano's timbre and overtones were perfectly captured by the Summer in Linn Fajal's fine recording with excellent rhythmic integrity.

The ethereal voice of Moya Brennan produced an otherworldly feeling in "Theme from Harry's Game" by Clannad. Her voice was beautifully rendered and contrasted nicely with the dense synthesised accompaniment and well separated backing vocals with the strangeness of the Gaelic lyrics adding to the effect.

Treble
The Summer possessed a very detailed and extended treble with excellent resolution and detail. The piezo driver managed to produce a delicate and airy quality to the upper frequencies and only occasionally displayed a minor thin quality often found in piezo drivers.

Richard Burmer's "A story from the rain" from the "Western Spaces" album begins with the sound of thunder and rainfall. Less accomplished earphones struggle to reproduce the subtle detail here but the Summer succeeded admirably. The piezo driver revealed all the atmosphere of the piece and the speed and impact of the percussive elements later in the track was really impressive.

The classic recording of Charles Ives's "The Unanswered Question" by the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein received a stunning rendition from the Summer. Set against a serene, sustained string background, the assertive trumpet solos and aggressive woodwind tone clusters produced a startling effect with the various instruments' individual timbres easy to discern and remained clean and clear even in the most dynamic passages.

Canadian synth duo Mychael Danna and Tim Clement have produced a series of electronic albums. "Ice and Air" is a track from their debut album, "A Gradual Awakening". It begins with descending swirling arpeggios in the high registers evoking snowfall. Each sound was cleanly depicted and displayed good separation and extension. The crystalline tones were notable for their detail. As the track continued a powerful bass drone added depth but the high frequencies remained clean throughout and retained their clarity.

Soundstage
The Summer's staging was very spacious and expansive with equal height and depth and a greater width. Layering and separation were very good due to the detail retrieval and fast transients of the piezo driver. Imaging was also of high quality.

"Andalu" by Chris Spheeris from his wonderful album "Desires of the Heart" showcased the excellent soundstage of the Summer. Bass and percussion introduce the track accompanied by piano with each element clearly depicted in its own space. A characteristic guitar solo appears high in the centre of the image and bass synthesised effects enter behind and across the stage. The Summer produced a real three-dimensional effect which was very spacious and enabled the superb production to be appreciated.

Vangelis's score for the Kurosawa film "Antarctica" is one of his best works. "Antarctic Echoes" employs a variation of the main theme in a calm and meditative style. Set in a very large resonant acoustic, the principal synth voice hovers in space accompanied by inventive string patches and electronic effects making full use of every square inch of space and the Summer rose to the occasion superbly, conveying a wide and spacious image with pinpoint imaging and delicate detail.

"Merok" by Eric Fogg is an orchestral piece written in 1929. It is based on a simple yet beautiful theme which is taken by a variety of instruments and accompanied by a soft string backdrop. In the version by the BBC Philharmonic conducted by Rumon Gamba, the Summer took the listener to the concert hall very convincingly with the orchestra laid out realistically and the interplay between the various instruments handled very well. The timbre of the woodwind was especially memorable and the ambience of the recording venue well rendered.

Comparisons
I have not heard either of the Spring models but have compared the Summer with another IEM with a piezo driver, plus two other multi-driver examples.

Elecom CB1000 (1DD + 1 piezo)
The CB1000 has a neutral/warm profile. It is much lighter in the bass than the Summer and does not have a mid bass emphasis, being quite linear. Texture and detail are very good. Mids are also fairly neutral, perhaps a little recessed but possess good timbre. The Summer is preferable here with more detail and resolution and is not as recessed. Treble is similar, the CB1000's coaxial design delivers good coherence and phasing and the transition to the treble is smooth. The extension is not as good as the Summer, though, and there is a thinness of tonality at times. Soundstage is not as expansive but layering and separation are good.

TRI Starsea (1DD + 2BA)
The Starsea's USP is the two tuning switches providing four different sound profiles. My preference is for the "Balanced" setting (both switches on). All comparisons are made with this setting engaged. The Starsea has a neutral and very transparent sound. Bass is fairly linear with some sub bass presence but no mid bass emphasis. Texture and resolution are excellent. The Summer is more emphatic in the bass, with some extra mid bass energy and perhaps a little less resolution. There is a smooth transition into the mids to the Starsea's Knowles 29869 driver which has good timbre, in fact, it is very similar to the Summer in this region and there is little to choose between them. Both have good timbre for a BA with only occasional sharpness in both cases. In treble, the Starsea is preferable with the proprietary TRI "Hi-A" unit delivering a smoother and just as extended response but avoiding the characteristic thin tonality piezo drivers occasionally tend to display. Soundstage is also superior in the Starsea, it is remarkably open and transparent with excellent layering and separation. The Starsea, in my opinion is the best tuned IEM I have heard in this price sector.

TRI i3 (1 DD+ 1 Planar + 1BA)
The i3 has a similar bold and expansive presentation to the Summer. Its bass is more focused in the sub bass region and there is superior extension and rumble. The i3's bass is exceptionally good. The Summer has a mid bass emphasis and there is still a good sub bass presence but it is not as impressive. The i3's planar driver is a true star. When adequately amplified it is accurate in timbre, smooth and detailed. The Summer's BA driver does well with good tonality for a BA but cannot compete with the i3 here. Treble is honours even with the Summer having better extension and excellent detail, but the i3 is deceptively accomplished as well. The smoothness and timbre makes up for the slight roll off in the upper frequencies and is better integrated with the midrange and bass. In soundstage, the i3 is exceptional, even though the Summer is very good in this regard. The overall presentation of the two is similar in the bold, cinematic and expansive quality they both display.

Conclusion
If I could choose one word to describe the sound of the Summer it would be "colourful". The effect is exciting and dramatic. The Summer's well-balanced profile and wide frequency range is testament to its high quality driver combination and excellent tuning and the piezo HF driver is the best implementation of this type I have heard, improving on those in the Elecom CB1000 and Artiste DC1, although there is still that occasional thin tonality associated with piezo units. Combined with the accurate timbre of the new BA unit and the robust performance of the dynamic LF driver, the Summer delivered an entertaining, powerful performance. There is a little extra energy in the mid bass colouring the lower mids, but in general, the tuning is musical and it produces a big, bold and enjoyable sound picture which suits many genres, making it a must for any shortlist of quality IEMs in this price range. It is highly recommended.


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“If you have been around in 2018 and have been following the Chi-Fi scene at the time, then you must’ve heard about BQEYZ. Founded in 2018 and located in Dongguan, China, BQEYZ is a well known manufacturer even though it is only 3 years old. It has made a very strong impression with its budget models like the K1, KB1 and K100. However, it was the Spring 1 that put the company on the map. Outside of being well-known for their budget models, it would go on to catch the interest of the mid-fi IEM market, the Spring 1 was considered by many as the best IEM under $200.” — from my Spring II review (read here)

Unboxing Experience



This is yet another approach BQEYZ has taken in terms of packaging their IEMs. More minimalist than ever, the packaging cover is lavender blue (aka periwinkle) and it’s mostly plain. The front facing side has “Summer” printed in a large font in the middle, while the only other text present on the front is the “BQEYZ” in the top-left corner. On the right side of the cover “Summer” is printed in a large font, while on the left side “BQEYZ” is printed in a smaller font. On the back you can find the technical specifications, contents, and contact information. Once you pull off the cover, you will find the now-familiar black box. However, unlike the Spring series that has a canvas-like texture, Summer’s black box has a cardboard-like texture with glitter to match the IEMs themselves.

When you open the box, you are met with a silver print of “Best Quality Earphone for You”. A friendly welcome note indeed. Inside you will find another cover which has another “Summer” & company name print, and also has left & right IEM labels. Once you take off this cover you can finally see all the contents (or so I thought). In the usual foam housing you can find the Summer IEMs, while in the bottom segment you can find the carrying case with the cable and the cleaning brush. I am used to the Spring metal plate that holds all the ear-tips, and this made me think that BQEYZ forgot to include it. I only later discovered that the ear-tips are hidden below the foam piece that holds the earpieces. No metal plate for ear-tips with the Summer — no big deal.



Design

This where I kind of got disappointed. In theory the Summer should look very nice, but in person I just don’t seem to find the design appealing. I am personally not sold on the glitter implementation in the plastic, it really makes the focus be on the plastic Perhaps this wouldn’t be such a bad idea if the plastic was of a very smooth design, but here you have the ridges on the faceplate (which I am also not a fan of) and have quite aggressive curvature throughout the earpieces. This would’ve looked much better if it was CNC aluminum, otherwise I think that plastic IEMs should stick to smooth design that have as little going on as possible. However, this is just aesthetic-wise, this design doesn’t present any problems in terms of comfort of functionality, it’s just that I do not find it necessarily appealing.

I think that plastic & resin are materials that BQEYZ should definitely explore, but they should be aware of the competition. If their products do not meet the competition, it will just be a waste of budget that could’ve otherwise been directed to the R&D department and the development of metal IEMs — something that BQEYZ proved to be quite good at.

From a technical point of view, many things remained the same: the metal nozzle, the three vented design, and the 0.78mm connector design.

Build Quality & Cable

As previously mentioned, I am not impressed with BQEYZ going with a plastic shell. I love plastic shells, they feel comfortable and do not really bug you with a cold feel. My daily driver for the past year or so has been the Jade Audio EA3, a plastic IEM. The quality of the plastic isn’t bad, it’s probably the glitter and the non-organic design that make it kind of un-appealing to me. I can also say that the seam between the two plastic parts is very noticeable, and that’s something that should be worked on.

However, the biggest problem I have with the Summer is that it went back to the bad old Spring I cable. Don’t get me wrong, the whole cable is great, the anodized aluminum housings on the cable both look & feel great, it's the ear-guides that bother me. They are insanely microphonic and they make this horrible rattling/sizzling noise that is quite bothering. This issue has been fixed in the new Spring II, so it makes me question why BQEYZ didn’t choose to keep that cable with the new Summer.

I hope that BQEYZ notes my feedback and makes a permanent change in the future regarding the cable. Keep the metal housings, keep the cable itself, just change the ear-guides to the Spring II ones.

Comfort & Fit

Here is where it gets good. BQEYZ finally got the fit & comfort aspect right. While at first I was struggling to get a deep and snug fit, as soon as I tried the medium blue tips I got what I wanted. The most prominent difference between the black and the blue ear-tips is that the blue ones have a firmer base and thus hold their shape better when inserted into the ear canal.

I can comfortably get a mid-deep fit that provides excellent isolation. I could enjoy the music and not worry about the environment around me. Even though there are three vent holes, I found there to be little to no sound leakage.

Sound



Lows

Listening back to “Why so Serious?” by Hans Zimmer, my standard sub-bass testing track, I was not disappointed in Summer’s sub-bass capability. I actually find the sub-bass quantity to be just right, it’s neither lacking nor is it excessive. The mid-bass on the other hand has more quantity. The body is thick and has depth to it. Interestingly enough, I found both the attack & decay to be slightly faster and more responsive than on the Spring II. It appears to me that the slam and delivery of the mid-bass is tighter. This was apparent on MOON’s “Hydrogen” and Lewis Curtiss’s “Smoking Mirrors”.

I think that the low frequency response is more pleasant and “fun” (enjoyable to listen to, exciting) than it is on the Spring II. There is definitely more definition and refinement in the lower area in the Summer.

Mids

When directly compared to the Spring II, the overall tonality doesn’t differ by much. The noticeable difference is that the Summer has more oomph in the lower mid-range and is brighter in the upper mid-range. The extra upper mid-range extension is quite audible in instruments such as guitars — especially when the strings are audibly plucked. That edge in the upper end is what gives it such an authentic sound, and for example, in Spring II that extension is not there, it’s a more flat and neutral IEM. I enjoyed listening to strings more on the Summer.

When it comes to vocals, let’s take Queen’s “The Show Must Go On”, the Summer has a much brighter representation compared to Spring II.

Though the excitingness of the Summer is appealing, I have to say that the Spring II holds the crown when it comes to being more accurate and neutral. It truly lets the mid-range shine without the extra extensions and colorations that the Summer has — but this also makes it a more “boring” sounding IEM. In the end it all depends as to how you plan to use the IEM and what you are looking for in terms of sound characteristics.

Highs

Much like the mid-range, the higher frequency range is noticeable brighter than on the Spring II. From percussion, to violins, to guitars, the edge is just brighter, and this is not by a small amount. This is audible in just about every track, but as an example, listen to “Beyond the Realms of Death” by Judas Priest as around the 1:04 minute mark and pay attention to the treble part coming off of the percussion. The Summer is much more brighter than the Spring II.

The extra quantity of highs can also result fatigue if you listen at higher listening levels. This can either be a positive or a negative for you. If you want to continue listening to your music at high listening levels, then it’s a negative, but if you want to push back the listening levels, it’s a positive. For example, the Jade Audio EA3 has been perceived as a bright sounding IEM by many, but it is the exact reason why I love it. I used to listen at very loud listening levels, and the EA3 really helped me protect my ears by literally forcing me to keep the listening levels at moderate listening levels.

Soundstage & Imaging

Perhaps the most outstanding part of this IEM are its soundstage and imaging qualities. When it comes to width, it appears that the soundstage can extend beyond 20cm, which is quite a lot when you think about it. The famous “Bubbles” track by Yosi Horikawa is a perfect example of this. “Hey You” by Pink Floyd is another track where you can feel the space of the soundstage (pay attention to the panning of guitars and percussion).

Imaging is not to be excluded. The accuracy and clarity of where the drums are in Pink Floyd’s “Dogs” at the 3:48 minute mark is a perfect example of where the Summer shines.



Conclusion

Priced at $129, the Summer is a new addition to BQEYZ’s IEM line-up. With its sonic colorations, the sound performance is enjoyable and exciting, but flat and neutral like the Spring II. With a few improvements, BQEYZ can release a flagship resin or plastic shelled IEM, but this is at least a start. I can recommend the Summer to somebody who is looking for an IEM with dominant mid-bass, bright & intimate mids, and a great treble extension. I also highly recommend this to someone who is looking for the previously-mentioned qualities and a spacious soundstage that allows all elements of the mix to breathe.



Notes for BQEYZ:

• Continue using Spring II ear-guides, never use the same ones that are used on Spring I or Summer. Continue using high-quality cables like on all of your IEMs.
  
• Continue using the blue ear-tips that are included with the Summer, because they are some of the best ear-tips I have used. They completely change the comfort of both Summer and Spring models. If these ear-tips were used earlier, the other models would’ve been much more comfortable!
  
• Try to source a higher quality plastic material or even resin. Experiment and make sure the final result is of high quality.

BQEYZ SUMMER NO GIMMICK REVIEW :

PROS: Balanced cohesive V shape tuning that doesn't forget the mids, natural timbre, authoritative bass, smoothly textured, good details retrieval and macro-resolution, impressive treble speed, snap and control

CONS: Average imaging and soundstage, lack of air, hollow mids definition, overly forwards presentation, not very well articulated bass, lack of decay and sparkle, underwhelming construction-design.

TONALITY: 8/10
TECHNICALITIES: 8/10
CONSTRUCTION-DESIGN: 7/10
SOUND VALUE: 7.5/10

Okay, let’s begin by ‘’disclaiming’’ I’m an intense BQEYZ fan, for years...and do really think they are underatted AF. I have my theory about why they are THAT underatted, or most likely, stock in audiophile amnesia, and it’s because they have a brand name nobody can memorize more than 5 seconds. Hence this meme i did some time ago to explain this unjust fate :



Did my fanatism mean BQEYZ are perfect tuner? Absolutely not, and i would be hard-pressed to find any audio company that nails 100% of their tuning….even Final Audio doesn’t have win this golden palm to my ears so...so, they have a house sound tuning that I find well balanced, competent in technicalities and musical. KB100, KC2, Spring1 and 2 are all prime example of this well balanced yet revealing and musical tuning BQEYZ chase. And they work hard for this, creating their own balanced armature driver and even patenting new type of drivers like a dual Dynamic and Piezo coaxial driver that doesnt exist anywhere apart into Spring 1 and 2 and well, the new SUMMER model i will revie today!



The BQEYZ SUMMER is an hybrid IEM using dual piezo-dd for low and highs and a New Balanced armature model made by BQEYZ. This new mid BA is different than the one used in Spring serie, and it is meant to be warmer sounding. Timbre being something very hard to achieve with a BA, let’s see how this sound in the middle of the piezo-dd drivers!

But now, lets cover boring part :


CONSTRUCTION is quite average for the price and will underwhelm those that prioritize IEM look, those fancy boys that want their IEM to go Bling-bling. Why? Because even our finger judge quality of something and the plastic used for SUMMER is a basic one, not a thick resin similar to pro custom IEM. The advantage is lightness and comfort, but compared to metal shell used with every older models, it isn’t a feel of upgrade. Let’s just say whole design was uninspired, even the Summer lettering seem uninspired….and easy to scratch off….and well, neither bling-bling or refined or beautiful.

Cable in the other hand is pretty decent, thick sturdy 8cores Silver plated. But i’m not sure it’s the one I would suggest first for great sound pairing.
Packaging is average and have minimal accessories.



NOW, the real SUMMER REVIEW BEGIN!

SOUND:

OK, I have to confess my dilemma about the SUMMER. First time i put them in my ears I was feeling something wrong is going on with the sound and this was due to 2 reasons. First, these need to burn in so the bass settle, secondly my hearing isn’t treble sensitive but very aware of acoustic phenomenon connected to air flow and I conclude the nozzle mesh was blocking too much of it. For the purpose of this review i put the mesh back, but i do prefer the more open, detailed and impactful of SUMMER without the mesh. Yes, the mesh warmer the sound, but it did interfere with other acoustic phenomena, like attack edge, imaging and soundstage size. There is the measurement of with and without mesh SUMMER, as seen, 2DB more in mids section but that’s just half of what happen to sound.

TONALITY is a balanced V to smoothed W shape signature where mid bass hit thumpy way, and mid treble have the most presence and extend in a lean, slightly restrained way apart upper treble which have more teeth. You will be hard-pressed to guess type of drivers in there because the tuning is balanced, coherent and thickly homogenous. Yep thickly cause it sound as a thick whole making macro-resolution more focus than micro definition.

IMAGING-SOUNDSTAGE is wide, not very tall or deep. Spatial positioning isn't very crisp and precise and lack separation space. We have good amount of layers of sound, but they can feel overly compressed to appreciate their singularities.

TECHNICALITIES are great, though a bit hollow and tamed in attack due to the mesh that filter lot of it’s dynamic potential. Attack is fast and well controlled, yet lacking edge in definition and separation as well as natural decay. Treble seem just a bit faster in transient than rest of spectrum, bass being the slower.

BASS have a hefty thumpy hit, with notable boost in mid and sub bass, but not alot of grip and definition to kick drum due to warm texture and thigh but not very delimitate impact. Their no alot of resonance or natural rumble, its all about weight here.

MIDS feel a bit hollow and not sharp in clarity, though well layered and full bodied. Vocal presence is centered but not very open and airy in presentation, more stick on the rest of instrumentation. It's not thin, lack a bit of transparency but have rather natural timbre and good texturing. Female vocal are brighter than male vocal but still not sibilant. Instruments sound realist and bodied.

TREBLE is quite similar to mids timbre, well balanced, lacking sharp bite but still capable of delivering intricate snappy micro-details that only a well tuned piezo (or electrostat) driverr can present as effortlessly. Everything with the Summer sound good as a whole but suffer in clean clarity, so the treble doesnt splash or sound harsh but the rendering isn't neither holographic or very open with clean air between instruments.

COMPARISONS :

VS BQEYZ SPRING2 :
Spring2 is crisper sounding with cleaner wider deeper soundstage, imaging is better, details retrieval higher. Treble is more airy, snappy and extended. Summer is more V shape and its bass is fatter warmer ,thicker. Mids too are warmer and a bit fuller but less transparent and open sounding. Summer sound hollow in definition, texture, details and air, as well as technically shy compared to Spring2, the attack lacking bite and snap and imaging being too saturated as a whole it’s very hard to find a reason to suggest Summer over the more audiophile targeted Spring2.

VS SHOZY ROUGE:
Brighter, colder, more analytical and towards neutral sounding. Cleaner-clearer and faster in attack. Dryier thinner timbre. More artificial sounding. Way less bassier. More shouty and harsh in treble. Really underwhelming in cohesive musicality after listening to Summer even if ROUGE try to push its technicalities bravado to the max...its just plain unpleasant due to timbre weakness.

CONCLUSION:

So, my impressions of SUMMER are a bit biased by 2 things: the fact i was expecting something very different than Spring2 and even better in some aspect as well as the fact I prefer how it sounds without its mesh but can't review it this way because it isn't the tuning desired. By everybody but me? That, im not sure, but it sure boost the treble a bit as well a mids presence.

In its stock form, the SUMMER are good, but have a rather underwhelming design and construction. The sound is lively yet warmed by both bass boosted presence and obstructive nozzle filter. The bass hit hard and would even please the gentle basshead, I've been enjoying these alot with EDM, Drum&bass because unlike other V shape IEM that can be too sharp or shouty in treble, the Summer make you enjoy its sound in a polite way and doesnt make the mids overly recessed. A polite basshead iem then? Yes, I think so, and a very well balanced and smooth one too even if forwards sounding which is very unique to say the least.

The BQEYZ Summer is the successor to the Spring 1-2 with a new resin shell instead of metal this makes the Summer lighter and more comfortable. While I do find metal more durable plastics can be shaped into more comfortable shapes and offer more colors and designs potions that are so beautiful in my opinion.

It features the same trybrid 13mm dynamic driver, a single balanced armature, and a piezo electric drivers and comes in a new lavender box and is upgraded with a fancier carrying case, better silver plated crystalline coper cable and two sets of silicone tips and a cleaning brush.








Sound:
Bass:
I found the Bass refreshing, it was present but more punchy in the Mid-Bass that is not to say Sub-Bass was light it definitely was thumpy when it was called upon but had a fast roll off, even so the Mid-Bass gives the Summer a warmth I really find pleasant. To me the Bass presents just behind the instruments feeling more natural and realistic.

Mids:
The Mids present forward with good details and a slight warmth from the Mid-Bass. I found them to be full sounding and natural. Male vocals sounded exceptional and in general the Mids are smooth with details and relaxing for long listening sessions.

Treble:
Highs are neutral / Bright and rich with details and has some fine sparkle, while it is bright I found it not to be harsh with most of my sources. The separation and clarity of instruments is good and paired with a warmer source the Summer performs well with only the rare spike.

Soundstage:
Here the Summer shines so bright with a wide yet organic sounding soundstage that has a some great imaging. The Summer can be good for gaming or watching videos with enjoyable results.

Conclusion:
I paired the BQEYZ Summer with many devices to get and average response and with all it performed quite well, in this price range I have a bunch of very good IEMs but the Summer has a signature that provides a great listening experience and comfortable without fatigue making it very enjoyable in my opinion.

https://hifigo.com/collections/bqey...-3-hybrid-drivers-balanced-in-ear-monitor-iem