How I review: (See Previous Reviews)
Instagram: regancipher
YouTube: regancipher
Model: QCY T17
Price: MSRP $39.98 - 11.11 price = $15.99!
Website: QCY Store
Review Reference: RC056
Manufacturer Specification:
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x Type-C USB Battery charging case
1 x Type-C USB charging cable
3 x Pair Silicone Eartips
1 x User manual (English, Chinese)
Real Life Experience
Welcome to the Regancipher review of the QCY T17. QCY have been releasing products like they are going out of fashion lately, and this is actually the first of two in the T17 series, with the T17S to follow soon. Reading through the Chinese equivalents to Head-fi, even they are surprised at the frenetic pace of releases!
However all things considered, this isn't altogether surprising. With the T1C now showing its age, QCY needed a 'sports-style' in-ear bud, with the mini wingtips proving historically a useful feature in adding some resistance for exercise. It's younger ears that this release is aimed at though, with few features and a very low price tag being the attraction, just as the T1C was. There is a segment of the market that can't afford, or don't want to shell out a fortune on TWS - and why should they not be treated to good sound? Well, that's where QCY step in and take centre stage.
It has been reported that they have sold over 10m units of the T17 in the first month of release, and you can see why.....
The Unboxing - 7/10
I am not going to go over the layout again - see my reviews of the other QCY products (at the bottom) for more details. This is consistent with the T16, HT03 and T12.
Inside, the earbuds slot into a plastic crate, along with the usual charge cable, tips and manual. The manual, whilst a little flimsy, tells you everything you need to know, and QCY have improved the content by adding more diagrams to it in order to demonstrate their points. Really, we know the TWS vendors want you to use the online manual within the app, but it's one area I feel QCY will need to brush up on if they want to make that jump to the next tier of vendor, in the same way Tronsmart did with their 2020 releases. They've still missed some basic stuff out like what the LED's denote - an area of improvement for sure.
The Case - 8/10
The T17 case is nicely proportioned, measuring 7cm at its widest, around 3.5cm high, and just over 2.5cm in depth. I've seen some earbud releases claiming to look like lipstick - well, this is definitely close than any I've seen previously.
Due to the lighting, it was hard to capture the Comfobuds 2 case, but they are proportionally almost identical. The 1More case is slightly girthier, and slightly shorter in height. Otherwise they are pretty similar.
Like the 1More case, there is an LED at the front denoting the charge status. Like other QCY releases, it's just two colour states - blue or red. The buds and the case show blue when above 50% battery, red when below. The case blinks when charging and turns solid blue when fully charged. The buds glow white (ok, so there's three colour states strictly speaking!) when the case is charging, and it is a very small subtle LED that wouldn't light a room up, so they are fine for taking out in the dark. The LED does not show when worn - even when paused.
The QCY logo sits atop the lid, and USB-C charges the case, which takes around 90 minutes for a full charge, providing the buds with 7.5 hours playtime and an additional 2-3 charges.
The finish is a little generic - it's charcoal grey, it has a fairly flimsy lid and a small lip for single handed use. It's back to the T11/T10 sort of finish - matte, but scuffs up and goes shiny very quickly in your pocket.
A birds-eye view shows the buds sitting in the cockpit. Placing the buds in the case is really straightforward - there's nothing scientific about it, it's pretty intuitive and the magnet clicks them into place. L and R in the middle, like with many earbuds, directs you in case you're new to the world of earbuds and/or think illogically! That said, you do have to ensure they 'click' into place, otherwise they may discharge in the case - not ideal.
The case is equipped with a 380mAh Zijian lithium battery and a Wenxianwei WSDY06 overcharge protection module, along with a separate Siyuan SY8812 SoC to relay information between each of the different modules. It makes for a very efficient and safe charge/discharging process that is built for longevity - impressive at this price point.
The weight of the case with the buds is crucial to the score. At 33g and its tiny dimensions, it is an exceptional case for popping in your trouser pocket whilst out on the move. This is the kind of case I don't mind having in my pocket when cycling, for example, as it is no burden at all to wear on you without a bag or even a jacket.
Whilst the capacity is relatively low, the low-power Jieli chip means you can get a total of 26 hours playtime with the case, and I found without calls, this was actually pretty accurate.
Ergonomics - 9.5/10
It would be no exaggeration to say the T17 are the comfiest buds I have ever had the pleasure of wearing. They fit my ears like gloves (on your hands, not on your ears. The gloves, not the earbuds!!!) There is barely any protrusion from the front profile, and the nozzle means they sit perfectly in your ears without any pressure on the concha. Marvellous!
Close up you can see the tiny wing adding a tiny amount of stability to the fit, but for me it is academic. With many buds you see a drooping, where the long neck means gravity pulls them away from your concha. Not the T17. They just sit majestically in your ears and are stable regardless of the level of movement you subject them too. Mosh pit? No problem!
Side profile shows how the shorter nozzle makes for a really quite perfect fit. They are comfier than the SoundPEATS Mini and other similarly shaped buds, but at the cost of passive noise isolation - you can hear pretty much everything around you, as they don't provide an invasive seal. This works fine for me, and I see why they are aimed at a younger audience - nobody wants their kids with silicone jammed inside their ear canals.
Above is a comparison with the SoundPEATS Mini. As you can see, there are some differences. The feedthrough mic is on the inside, the mini-wing is apparent, the thickness is slightly less and the nozzle is slightly shorter. The battery connectors also have a slight bevel, which could be useful for those who suffer nickel allergies. The outer edge is more rounded and glossy, similar to the Samsung Buds + (in fact, lets not beat around the bush, they are dead ringers!)
Left to Right - Top Row: Jabra Elite 75T, SoundPEATS Mini, QCY T17, KZ SKS
Bottom Row: FIIL T1 Pro / Earfun Free Pro
The design is not really similar to any buds above, taking the best elements from all of them. They're less invasive than the Jabra, less customised than the KZ SKS and lack the lengthy wing-tip and long nozzle of the FIIL/Earfun. However, the T17 don't need any of those features. They're just really well designed. As you see, they lack the inner contouring of the SoundPEATS Mini, which makes their noise isolation inferior, but this is only a problem if it's a problem - for me, it certainly isn't.
Above gives a clearer view of how the T17 fit in your ears. The nozzles are fairly normal, suggesting a 6-7mm driver, although this isn't specified in any of the promotional material. The glossy edge and QCY logo, as well as the blue light and bottom mic, can be seen in the top right. The light only shows when pairing.
At just over 4g they are amongst the lightest earbuds around, and are perfectly suited for prolonged use. You could use the T17 for exercise, side-sleeping - anything. They're so versatile. It's just a shame there's no WR rating, but QCY do tend to omit the testing from their release process to keep costs down, so I wouldn't be too concerned about training in them.
Note - since the T17 were released, the eerily-similar Redmi Buds 3 'Youth Edition' have hit the market. Whilst aesthetically they are almost identical (albeit slightly heavier), they use the BES 2500 chip (as opposed to the Jieli used by QCY) and a smaller, 5.5mm driver as opposed to the 6.25mm driver used by QCY.
Audio - 8/10 (for the price paid), 7/10 (raw score)
Interestingly, QCY are starting to chamfer the rough edges of their traditional v-shaped sound, edging away from the extreme 'scooped' sound signature of many of their previous releases. Ok - it's not audiophile tuning, but by Bluetooth standards it's certainly a marked improvement.
The trebles are slightly less harsh, and the bass far less bloated - this is no bad thing, regardless of your preferred profile. The peaks at 3k and 5k ensure the T17 don't sound boring, giving a little sparkle and brightness to instruments without the piercing and distorted clashes and cymbals we typically heard with releases back in 2020, and the difference between ultra-budget buds like these, and the mid-range sub $100 mark is certainly closing. However, the slight dip in overall volume on complex tracks, symptomatic of buds trying not to over-emphasize any specific frequency over another without losing too much detail, can leave tracks feeling either a little thin or inconsistent, especially if you can't get a great fit.
The dynamic drivers still provide punchy kick drums and textured snares, but when tracks start to get complex, the intimate warmth or spacious airiness you get with higher-budget buds (depending on their raison d'etre) is the compromise. This seems to be the evolving approach of many vendors at this price point, and whilst it agreeably reduces sibilance in vocals and distortion in basslines substantially, it can render listening to music more a 'secondary activity', i.e. something you're doing while you're doing something else because you've forgotten that's what you were actually doing.
Toto's 'Africa' is a prime example - really rather pleasant to listen to rather than coming to life as the soft-rock orchestral phenomena should. David Paich's vocal takes a back seat when the congas, cowbells and shakers are added to the mix, and further back goes the bass guitar. The 'gong' around 2 minutes in, which feels quite distant but prolonged on dual-armature buds like the SoundPEATS H1, is less apparent, and it is these details that you compromise at this price point.
It is a similar story when you switch music styles. Michael Calfan's 'Treasured Soul', for example, opens with the intended full but punchy kick drum, breaking down to reveal a fairly warm, intimate piano and well-represented, time-stretched vocal. Claps come through nice and clean as the build up starts to crescendo, but the ukulele doesn't have the tone that was intended. Then the drop, whilst retaining all of the individual elements, is just a little lacking in emphasis and boost.
Female vocals, emphasised in the frequency response, are understandably less muted, and mostly without sibilance. 'Bleeding Love' by Leona Lewis, a traditionally difficult track for budget buds to deal with, especially in the opening 90 seconds, sees the bass rumble along nicely, giving Leona's vocal range plenty of room. However the brightness means you may at times feel they are overpowering depending on your preferred sound signature - for me, it's fine, but it may not be for everyone.
Overall though, for sub $20 it is quite remarkable how far we've come. If this is the compromise for budget buds for 2021, then I think we've come a long way.
Call Quality - Indoors - 8/10, Outdoors - 7/10
Again, QCY have ignored the fancy features and noise compression algorithms and yet still managed to deliver very good call quality from a budget bud.
My daughter and I went and did the mic test on a blustery November Saturday afternoon, and the T17 gave sufficient clarity for me to hear every word she said outdoors. There is some noticeable compression, and passing traffic is audible, albeit reduced emphatically, but considering their form factor and price, it really can't be grumbled at.
The T17 use Laserdiao MEMS mics (like just about every other vendor) and the 32-bit Jieli SoC supports the features we typically see on Qualcomm and BES-based products, such as single/dual mic noise reduction. What is unique about the T17 is the triple magnetic shielding inductors - actually, unique is unfair - I've seen them used in TWS before, but nothing at this price point - Apple, Huawei, Samsung, Libratone, 1More and Soundcore maybe, but nothing below the $100 mark. It reduces interference, and this helps calls as well as connectivity. It is another example of why QCY are becoming the smartest cookies in town, making simple but effective incremental improvements in every release.
The T17 were not out of place tested alongside buds in some instances five times the price of them on my outdoor mic test of 28 sets of buds in December 2021:
Connectivity, Controls and other Interactive Features - 6/10
QCY often take a no-frills approach to their releases, limiting the number of needless features in favour of a lower price tag, and the T17 are a prime example of their loss-leaders with few even favourable features included.
Lets start with the positives - the controls are very good - intuitive and easy to use. Whilst the controls don't allow you to change the volume, this can and will be able to be customised via the QCY app. Out of the box, double taps play/pause and answer/end calls, holding left and right skips track back and forward respectively (and ignores call). Triple left tap hails voice assistant, and right tap gaming mode. The audible beeps which tell you your 'taps' are doing something are less offensive than previous releases, and the touch area is positioned well to minimise accidental touches.
One of the minor issues is they seem to stay connected even when you shut the case. There is a very evident click and the buds flash white to demonstrate they are charging - that's fine. But often, certainly on Android, I found myself having to manually turn off the connection. Perhaps this is something a firmware update will resolve, but having received them prior to release, they weren't even showing in the app. The QCY app is discussed in previous reviews (see the bottom of the review) but a welcome addition at this price point.
They support Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, although I didn't find this especially improved their stability. In fact, I had some small issues with it. I would occasionally get glitches - but get this, only on Audible. No other platform, just Audible, on both Android and IOS. Utterly bizarre.
Unlike the more expensive T16, there is no quick-charge feature, and this is a real shame. There is no wireless charging nor ANC as you would expect at this price point. Codecs-wise, you're stuck with AAC - if you want AptX, trade up to the T16.
Battery Life - 8/10
Battery life is a strong feature. On around 60% volume, which is perfectly adequate, you can get around 6-7 hours of music playtime. Take calls, and your overall battery life will reduce. With the case, you get an additional 2-3 charges, so you could conceivably get around 25-26 hours of playtime - a very respectable figure at this price point.
Final Comments
In my introduction, as with every QCY review, I stress that their approach is not to be the best, most feature-rich set of earbuds on the market, but instead to try to bring selected, premium, high end features into low-cost, high value releases.
The T17 break away from the features, instead delivering an ultra-low budget offering with near perfect ergonomics that fit beautifully, have a wide-range of use-cases, and marketed as 'youth buds', balance comfort with decent sound, good call quality and low latency whilst not compromising on battery life.
They're not in the league of the excellent recent T16 in terms of pure audio, but I have a feeling I will be wearing these a lot, and if your T1C are finally giving up the ghost, the T17 are outstanding value for money - even more so in the 11.11 sale.
EDIT - I haven't stopped wearing them as daily beaters since writing this review and some of the early problems, such as some connectivity glitches, have vanished as they've settled down. They are truly remarkable earbuds for the price.
I'm looking forward to the imminent G1 release, and am a firm advocate of QCY's mass-market, niche products for niche requirements approach. Some would call it scattergun, but if you try and keep everyone happy with one release, well....even those with the best intentions may start that way, but they certainly don't stay that way.
The T17 are another clear indication of QCY's growing maturity level - for entry-level, this is really outstanding stuff. The T17S look to be a step further in the evolution, utilizing the Qualcomm QCC3040 to provide aptX-adaptive support and increasing the mics from 2 to 4. I haven't tested them yet- but if they can retain and maybe even improve on the sound further, they will unquestionably be a big hit, especially with their interesting color combinations and low price.
Price Weighted Score: 85%
Raw Score: 78%
instagram: regancipher
QCY Review Inventory:
HT07 Arcbuds
HT05 Melobuds ANC
T20 Ailypods
T18
G1
T17
T16
T13
HT03
T12
T11
About QCY:
Whilst not quite a household name outside of China yet, QCY are well-renowned in the budget TWS space for developing extraordinarily low cost earbuds that, whilst perhaps lacking some of the bells and whistles of the more expensive brands, deliver to the segment of the market where 'good enough is good enough', with solid reliability and tremendous value for money.
Part of the Hele Electronics Group, as well as designing their own products, they also OEM product for other vendors (Aukey, for example rebrand the T5), with three of their major customers being brands you will certainly recognise and in the global top 10 of the TWS market in 2019. In 2020, market research indicated they were the 4th biggest TWS vendor worldwide - no mean feat.
Despite a close relationship with SoC manufactuer Zhuhai Jieli, QCY are not afraid to mix and match components to suit their target market. This often sees a number of releases in quick succession - their T17S are an example of this, released subsequent to the T17, and differentiating with the use of the Qualcomm QCC3040 SoC, to support customers who require the added lower latency enabled by the aptX codecs that the Qualcomm chips support. They did a similar thing with the very popular T5, T8 and T9 - nice to see a vendor using an easy to follow naming convention! The G1 use the newest Pixart chip in order to reduce latency - horses for courses!
The QCY mission seems to be bringing music to the masses at a very affordable price - they are unlikely to top the charts for sound quality or features any time soon, but I think that's how they prefer it - their bang for buck is often unparalleled, with customers knowing they are getting value from a brand they can trust.
Instagram: regancipher
YouTube: regancipher
Model: QCY T17
Price: MSRP $39.98 - 11.11 price = $15.99!
Website: QCY Store
Review Reference: RC056
Manufacturer Specification:
- Brand: QCY
- Model: T17 / BH21Q17A / IN2031A
- Driver: 6.25mm WOAI Dynamic Composite Driver
- Chipset: Jieli AD6973D4 32-Bit DSP
- Frequency Response Range: 20-20000Hz
- Mic: 4, LaserDiao 1054
- ANC: No
- Volume Control: Yes (not native - must be configured in the app)
- Codecs: AAC, SBC
- Earbud Weight: 4.05g
- Case + Earbuds Gross Weight: 33.49g
- Case Dimensions: 70mm (width) x 27mm (depth) x 33mm (height)
- Case Charge Capacity: 380mAh
- Full Charge Time: 120 minutes
- Quick Charge: No
- Wireless Charging: No
- Input: 5V 400mA
- Single Use Playtime: Up to 7.5 hours
- Playtime with Charge Case: Up to 26 hours
- App Support: Yes
- Bluetooth Range: 10m advertised
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth® 5.1
- Bluetooth Protocols: HSP/ HFP/ A2DP/ AVRCP
- Water Resistance: Not listed
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x Type-C USB Battery charging case
1 x Type-C USB charging cable
3 x Pair Silicone Eartips
1 x User manual (English, Chinese)
Real Life Experience
Welcome to the Regancipher review of the QCY T17. QCY have been releasing products like they are going out of fashion lately, and this is actually the first of two in the T17 series, with the T17S to follow soon. Reading through the Chinese equivalents to Head-fi, even they are surprised at the frenetic pace of releases!
However all things considered, this isn't altogether surprising. With the T1C now showing its age, QCY needed a 'sports-style' in-ear bud, with the mini wingtips proving historically a useful feature in adding some resistance for exercise. It's younger ears that this release is aimed at though, with few features and a very low price tag being the attraction, just as the T1C was. There is a segment of the market that can't afford, or don't want to shell out a fortune on TWS - and why should they not be treated to good sound? Well, that's where QCY step in and take centre stage.
It has been reported that they have sold over 10m units of the T17 in the first month of release, and you can see why.....
The Unboxing - 7/10
I am not going to go over the layout again - see my reviews of the other QCY products (at the bottom) for more details. This is consistent with the T16, HT03 and T12.
Inside, the earbuds slot into a plastic crate, along with the usual charge cable, tips and manual. The manual, whilst a little flimsy, tells you everything you need to know, and QCY have improved the content by adding more diagrams to it in order to demonstrate their points. Really, we know the TWS vendors want you to use the online manual within the app, but it's one area I feel QCY will need to brush up on if they want to make that jump to the next tier of vendor, in the same way Tronsmart did with their 2020 releases. They've still missed some basic stuff out like what the LED's denote - an area of improvement for sure.
The Case - 8/10
The T17 case is nicely proportioned, measuring 7cm at its widest, around 3.5cm high, and just over 2.5cm in depth. I've seen some earbud releases claiming to look like lipstick - well, this is definitely close than any I've seen previously.
Due to the lighting, it was hard to capture the Comfobuds 2 case, but they are proportionally almost identical. The 1More case is slightly girthier, and slightly shorter in height. Otherwise they are pretty similar.
Like the 1More case, there is an LED at the front denoting the charge status. Like other QCY releases, it's just two colour states - blue or red. The buds and the case show blue when above 50% battery, red when below. The case blinks when charging and turns solid blue when fully charged. The buds glow white (ok, so there's three colour states strictly speaking!) when the case is charging, and it is a very small subtle LED that wouldn't light a room up, so they are fine for taking out in the dark. The LED does not show when worn - even when paused.
The QCY logo sits atop the lid, and USB-C charges the case, which takes around 90 minutes for a full charge, providing the buds with 7.5 hours playtime and an additional 2-3 charges.
The finish is a little generic - it's charcoal grey, it has a fairly flimsy lid and a small lip for single handed use. It's back to the T11/T10 sort of finish - matte, but scuffs up and goes shiny very quickly in your pocket.
A birds-eye view shows the buds sitting in the cockpit. Placing the buds in the case is really straightforward - there's nothing scientific about it, it's pretty intuitive and the magnet clicks them into place. L and R in the middle, like with many earbuds, directs you in case you're new to the world of earbuds and/or think illogically! That said, you do have to ensure they 'click' into place, otherwise they may discharge in the case - not ideal.
The case is equipped with a 380mAh Zijian lithium battery and a Wenxianwei WSDY06 overcharge protection module, along with a separate Siyuan SY8812 SoC to relay information between each of the different modules. It makes for a very efficient and safe charge/discharging process that is built for longevity - impressive at this price point.
The weight of the case with the buds is crucial to the score. At 33g and its tiny dimensions, it is an exceptional case for popping in your trouser pocket whilst out on the move. This is the kind of case I don't mind having in my pocket when cycling, for example, as it is no burden at all to wear on you without a bag or even a jacket.
Whilst the capacity is relatively low, the low-power Jieli chip means you can get a total of 26 hours playtime with the case, and I found without calls, this was actually pretty accurate.
Ergonomics - 9.5/10
It would be no exaggeration to say the T17 are the comfiest buds I have ever had the pleasure of wearing. They fit my ears like gloves (on your hands, not on your ears. The gloves, not the earbuds!!!) There is barely any protrusion from the front profile, and the nozzle means they sit perfectly in your ears without any pressure on the concha. Marvellous!
Close up you can see the tiny wing adding a tiny amount of stability to the fit, but for me it is academic. With many buds you see a drooping, where the long neck means gravity pulls them away from your concha. Not the T17. They just sit majestically in your ears and are stable regardless of the level of movement you subject them too. Mosh pit? No problem!
Side profile shows how the shorter nozzle makes for a really quite perfect fit. They are comfier than the SoundPEATS Mini and other similarly shaped buds, but at the cost of passive noise isolation - you can hear pretty much everything around you, as they don't provide an invasive seal. This works fine for me, and I see why they are aimed at a younger audience - nobody wants their kids with silicone jammed inside their ear canals.
Above is a comparison with the SoundPEATS Mini. As you can see, there are some differences. The feedthrough mic is on the inside, the mini-wing is apparent, the thickness is slightly less and the nozzle is slightly shorter. The battery connectors also have a slight bevel, which could be useful for those who suffer nickel allergies. The outer edge is more rounded and glossy, similar to the Samsung Buds + (in fact, lets not beat around the bush, they are dead ringers!)
Left to Right - Top Row: Jabra Elite 75T, SoundPEATS Mini, QCY T17, KZ SKS
Bottom Row: FIIL T1 Pro / Earfun Free Pro
The design is not really similar to any buds above, taking the best elements from all of them. They're less invasive than the Jabra, less customised than the KZ SKS and lack the lengthy wing-tip and long nozzle of the FIIL/Earfun. However, the T17 don't need any of those features. They're just really well designed. As you see, they lack the inner contouring of the SoundPEATS Mini, which makes their noise isolation inferior, but this is only a problem if it's a problem - for me, it certainly isn't.
Above gives a clearer view of how the T17 fit in your ears. The nozzles are fairly normal, suggesting a 6-7mm driver, although this isn't specified in any of the promotional material. The glossy edge and QCY logo, as well as the blue light and bottom mic, can be seen in the top right. The light only shows when pairing.
At just over 4g they are amongst the lightest earbuds around, and are perfectly suited for prolonged use. You could use the T17 for exercise, side-sleeping - anything. They're so versatile. It's just a shame there's no WR rating, but QCY do tend to omit the testing from their release process to keep costs down, so I wouldn't be too concerned about training in them.
Note - since the T17 were released, the eerily-similar Redmi Buds 3 'Youth Edition' have hit the market. Whilst aesthetically they are almost identical (albeit slightly heavier), they use the BES 2500 chip (as opposed to the Jieli used by QCY) and a smaller, 5.5mm driver as opposed to the 6.25mm driver used by QCY.
Audio - 8/10 (for the price paid), 7/10 (raw score)
Interestingly, QCY are starting to chamfer the rough edges of their traditional v-shaped sound, edging away from the extreme 'scooped' sound signature of many of their previous releases. Ok - it's not audiophile tuning, but by Bluetooth standards it's certainly a marked improvement.
The trebles are slightly less harsh, and the bass far less bloated - this is no bad thing, regardless of your preferred profile. The peaks at 3k and 5k ensure the T17 don't sound boring, giving a little sparkle and brightness to instruments without the piercing and distorted clashes and cymbals we typically heard with releases back in 2020, and the difference between ultra-budget buds like these, and the mid-range sub $100 mark is certainly closing. However, the slight dip in overall volume on complex tracks, symptomatic of buds trying not to over-emphasize any specific frequency over another without losing too much detail, can leave tracks feeling either a little thin or inconsistent, especially if you can't get a great fit.
The dynamic drivers still provide punchy kick drums and textured snares, but when tracks start to get complex, the intimate warmth or spacious airiness you get with higher-budget buds (depending on their raison d'etre) is the compromise. This seems to be the evolving approach of many vendors at this price point, and whilst it agreeably reduces sibilance in vocals and distortion in basslines substantially, it can render listening to music more a 'secondary activity', i.e. something you're doing while you're doing something else because you've forgotten that's what you were actually doing.
Toto's 'Africa' is a prime example - really rather pleasant to listen to rather than coming to life as the soft-rock orchestral phenomena should. David Paich's vocal takes a back seat when the congas, cowbells and shakers are added to the mix, and further back goes the bass guitar. The 'gong' around 2 minutes in, which feels quite distant but prolonged on dual-armature buds like the SoundPEATS H1, is less apparent, and it is these details that you compromise at this price point.
It is a similar story when you switch music styles. Michael Calfan's 'Treasured Soul', for example, opens with the intended full but punchy kick drum, breaking down to reveal a fairly warm, intimate piano and well-represented, time-stretched vocal. Claps come through nice and clean as the build up starts to crescendo, but the ukulele doesn't have the tone that was intended. Then the drop, whilst retaining all of the individual elements, is just a little lacking in emphasis and boost.
Female vocals, emphasised in the frequency response, are understandably less muted, and mostly without sibilance. 'Bleeding Love' by Leona Lewis, a traditionally difficult track for budget buds to deal with, especially in the opening 90 seconds, sees the bass rumble along nicely, giving Leona's vocal range plenty of room. However the brightness means you may at times feel they are overpowering depending on your preferred sound signature - for me, it's fine, but it may not be for everyone.
Overall though, for sub $20 it is quite remarkable how far we've come. If this is the compromise for budget buds for 2021, then I think we've come a long way.
Call Quality - Indoors - 8/10, Outdoors - 7/10
Again, QCY have ignored the fancy features and noise compression algorithms and yet still managed to deliver very good call quality from a budget bud.
My daughter and I went and did the mic test on a blustery November Saturday afternoon, and the T17 gave sufficient clarity for me to hear every word she said outdoors. There is some noticeable compression, and passing traffic is audible, albeit reduced emphatically, but considering their form factor and price, it really can't be grumbled at.
The T17 use Laserdiao MEMS mics (like just about every other vendor) and the 32-bit Jieli SoC supports the features we typically see on Qualcomm and BES-based products, such as single/dual mic noise reduction. What is unique about the T17 is the triple magnetic shielding inductors - actually, unique is unfair - I've seen them used in TWS before, but nothing at this price point - Apple, Huawei, Samsung, Libratone, 1More and Soundcore maybe, but nothing below the $100 mark. It reduces interference, and this helps calls as well as connectivity. It is another example of why QCY are becoming the smartest cookies in town, making simple but effective incremental improvements in every release.
The T17 were not out of place tested alongside buds in some instances five times the price of them on my outdoor mic test of 28 sets of buds in December 2021:
Connectivity, Controls and other Interactive Features - 6/10
QCY often take a no-frills approach to their releases, limiting the number of needless features in favour of a lower price tag, and the T17 are a prime example of their loss-leaders with few even favourable features included.
Lets start with the positives - the controls are very good - intuitive and easy to use. Whilst the controls don't allow you to change the volume, this can and will be able to be customised via the QCY app. Out of the box, double taps play/pause and answer/end calls, holding left and right skips track back and forward respectively (and ignores call). Triple left tap hails voice assistant, and right tap gaming mode. The audible beeps which tell you your 'taps' are doing something are less offensive than previous releases, and the touch area is positioned well to minimise accidental touches.
One of the minor issues is they seem to stay connected even when you shut the case. There is a very evident click and the buds flash white to demonstrate they are charging - that's fine. But often, certainly on Android, I found myself having to manually turn off the connection. Perhaps this is something a firmware update will resolve, but having received them prior to release, they weren't even showing in the app. The QCY app is discussed in previous reviews (see the bottom of the review) but a welcome addition at this price point.
They support Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, although I didn't find this especially improved their stability. In fact, I had some small issues with it. I would occasionally get glitches - but get this, only on Audible. No other platform, just Audible, on both Android and IOS. Utterly bizarre.
Unlike the more expensive T16, there is no quick-charge feature, and this is a real shame. There is no wireless charging nor ANC as you would expect at this price point. Codecs-wise, you're stuck with AAC - if you want AptX, trade up to the T16.
Battery Life - 8/10
Battery life is a strong feature. On around 60% volume, which is perfectly adequate, you can get around 6-7 hours of music playtime. Take calls, and your overall battery life will reduce. With the case, you get an additional 2-3 charges, so you could conceivably get around 25-26 hours of playtime - a very respectable figure at this price point.
Final Comments
In my introduction, as with every QCY review, I stress that their approach is not to be the best, most feature-rich set of earbuds on the market, but instead to try to bring selected, premium, high end features into low-cost, high value releases.
The T17 break away from the features, instead delivering an ultra-low budget offering with near perfect ergonomics that fit beautifully, have a wide-range of use-cases, and marketed as 'youth buds', balance comfort with decent sound, good call quality and low latency whilst not compromising on battery life.
They're not in the league of the excellent recent T16 in terms of pure audio, but I have a feeling I will be wearing these a lot, and if your T1C are finally giving up the ghost, the T17 are outstanding value for money - even more so in the 11.11 sale.
EDIT - I haven't stopped wearing them as daily beaters since writing this review and some of the early problems, such as some connectivity glitches, have vanished as they've settled down. They are truly remarkable earbuds for the price.
I'm looking forward to the imminent G1 release, and am a firm advocate of QCY's mass-market, niche products for niche requirements approach. Some would call it scattergun, but if you try and keep everyone happy with one release, well....even those with the best intentions may start that way, but they certainly don't stay that way.
The T17 are another clear indication of QCY's growing maturity level - for entry-level, this is really outstanding stuff. The T17S look to be a step further in the evolution, utilizing the Qualcomm QCC3040 to provide aptX-adaptive support and increasing the mics from 2 to 4. I haven't tested them yet- but if they can retain and maybe even improve on the sound further, they will unquestionably be a big hit, especially with their interesting color combinations and low price.
Price Weighted Score: 85%
Raw Score: 78%
instagram: regancipher
QCY Review Inventory:
HT07 Arcbuds
HT05 Melobuds ANC
T20 Ailypods
T18
G1
T17
T16
T13
HT03
T12
T11
About QCY:
Whilst not quite a household name outside of China yet, QCY are well-renowned in the budget TWS space for developing extraordinarily low cost earbuds that, whilst perhaps lacking some of the bells and whistles of the more expensive brands, deliver to the segment of the market where 'good enough is good enough', with solid reliability and tremendous value for money.
Part of the Hele Electronics Group, as well as designing their own products, they also OEM product for other vendors (Aukey, for example rebrand the T5), with three of their major customers being brands you will certainly recognise and in the global top 10 of the TWS market in 2019. In 2020, market research indicated they were the 4th biggest TWS vendor worldwide - no mean feat.
Despite a close relationship with SoC manufactuer Zhuhai Jieli, QCY are not afraid to mix and match components to suit their target market. This often sees a number of releases in quick succession - their T17S are an example of this, released subsequent to the T17, and differentiating with the use of the Qualcomm QCC3040 SoC, to support customers who require the added lower latency enabled by the aptX codecs that the Qualcomm chips support. They did a similar thing with the very popular T5, T8 and T9 - nice to see a vendor using an easy to follow naming convention! The G1 use the newest Pixart chip in order to reduce latency - horses for courses!
The QCY mission seems to be bringing music to the masses at a very affordable price - they are unlikely to top the charts for sound quality or features any time soon, but I think that's how they prefer it - their bang for buck is often unparalleled, with customers knowing they are getting value from a brand they can trust.
regancipher
Probably T13 but neither will sound great. TWS are better designed for calls than streaming. For YouTube or streaming etc I recommend a mic like the Hyper-X Solocast, it's miles better than TWS in that respect
tendou
Oh. I'm sorry for not being clear. It is for listening to podcast and YouTube video. I'm not creating content..
So t13 better isolation from outside sound? Though I usually preferred no stem design
So t13 better isolation from outside sound? Though I usually preferred no stem design
For podcast or YouTube speech video. Which is better between t17 and t13?