EDIT 2023-08-25: If you are not aware, I am selling my own Earbuds, called RikuBuds: https://rikubuds.com/
Disclaimer: I bought this on my own expense on the NiceHCK store at AliExpress. Leaving the link because it is hard to find, but this lucky bag has a 100% rate for the Qian39: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003181873387.html
Price: 6 usd
Specifications:
Accessories:
1 pair of full foams
Cable: A standard black cable, no chin-slider, fully plastic and is on the thinner side. Durability might be a concern because of that.
Build: Plastic shell, very small (smaller than usual MX500 shells) and super lightweight.
Fit: God-tier, no problems and fits extremely well. Is small enough so it gets a deeper fit than regular MX500 shell.
Comfort: God-tier, small shell and lightweight, no issues for longer sessions.
Isolation: None
Setup: Schiit Asgard 3 (low-gain, volume around 8 o´clock), full foams, stock cable 3.5mm
Lows: Mid-bass focused but still clean. Sub-bass is still a bit more elevated than most buds. Very good texture and is on the tighter/faster side. The reason for the elevated and yet clean bass, is that the shell allows a deeper fit than with regular MX500 shells, so the driver doesn’t need to compensate by elevating the bass more and the quality is higher because of that as well (probably).
Mid-bass: Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), the bass is on the tighter/faster side and quantity is a bit elevated with good texture, not that clean due to the poor separation though. The (02:55-03:01) section with the chopper is hearable but not that clean.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), Clean due to the speed/tightness but also elevated with good texture.
Sub-bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), doesn’t extend nor rumble much. Punch quantity could be a lot higher while texture, speed and tightness are pretty good.
Will Sparks – Sick like that (03:08-03:22), quantity is decent but could be higher while texture, speed and tightness are pretty good.
Mids: Excellent vocal tonality, both male and female, neutral placement, still clean despite the mid-bass focused bass and has excellent timbre as expected from a bud.
Female-vocals: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), vocal tonality and timbre are excellent, quite forward and clean as well. Instrument tonality, timbre and clarity are very good.
Yuki Hayashi – MightU (01:58-02:55), instrument and vocal tonality and timbre are excellent, very clean as well.
Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), not shouty nor peaky treble, slightly fatiguing due to the tonality though.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Crescent (02:07-02:26), slightly shouty and peaky treble, fatiguing.
Male-vocals: Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (00:57-01:17), vocal and instrument tonality are very good, clean as well.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), vocal and instrument tonality lacks warmth, and lacks some clarity, timbre is good though.
Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars aren’t sharp, very good tonality and timbre. Lacks some texture though.
Deuce – America (03:03-03:16), not peaky treble, but very chaotic due to the separation and imaging.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality and timbre are good, texture, clarity and detail could be better. Violin tonality and timbre are very good but treble-extension and detail could be better.
Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), tonality and timbre are very good, but can be cleaner.
Soundstage: Quite wide and deep even for a bud.
Tonality: Bass-boosted neutral, excellent timbre as expected from a bud, note-weight is slightly on the thicker side.
Details: Good for the price, but definitely lacking when compared to higher priced buds.
Instrument Separation: Struggles with separation on busier tracks and imaging is nothing special (not a problem for the price though).
Songs that highlight the Earbud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-u6C-LLdfsc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj5DRn7Y4ok https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLUguXpUIb0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVTXPUF4Oz4
Good genres: Rock/metal, Acoustic/vocal, Hiroyuki Sawano
Bad genres: Not much, its very versatile for my library although it does struggle more on busier tracks.
Comparisons:
Earbud: Yincrow X6, full foams, stock cable 3.5mm
Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends lower and rumbles more on the X6. Punch quantity is higher on it and more textured but a bit tighter and faster on the Qian39. More tonally correct on the X6 with similar timbre.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), a bit more bass quantity on the X6 but more textured, tighter and faster on the Qian39. More tonally correct and with better timbre on the Qian39.
Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), similarly clean because of the cleaner (less quantity, tighter and faster) bass on the X6 better separation on the X6.
Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), vocal tonality, clarity and forwardness are better on the Qian39 very similar detail and timbre. Instrument tonality is slightly better on the Qian39, cleaner but very similar timbre and detail.
Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), slightly peakier on the Qian39 and more fatiguing due to the brighter tonality.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), slightly better vocal and instrument tonality and timbre on the X6 but more forward and cleaner vocals on the Qian39
Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), extremely similar tonality and timbre as well as detail, slightly cleaner on the X6 overall.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality and timbre are very similar but slightly better texture and cleaner on the X6. Violin tonality is slightly better on the X6 as well as better treble-extension, but very similar timbre and detail.
Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), a bit better tonality and cleaner on the Qian39, similar detail and timbre.
Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), slightly wider and deeper on the Qian39 but a bit airier on the X6. Imaging, separation and micro-detail are a bit better on the X6 but similar macro-details and timbre.
Overall: Both are excellent, if you want something more fun, bassier (more V) then the X6 is your pick. If you prefer something more balanced and more mids but still pretty fun, then get the Qian39. The Qian39 is taking over my default rec for budget buds though, due to the price, comfort, fit, even though they are comparable in sound.
Earbud: K´s LBBS, full foams, stock cable 3.5mm
Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends lower and rumbles more on the Qian39. Punch quantity and texture are also better on the Qian39 but cleaner and more detailed, faster and tighter on the LBBS. More tonally correct on the Qian39 but better timbre on the LBBS.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), a lot more mid-bass on the Qian39 and a bit more textured on it, but a lot cleaner on the LBBS due to the faster/tighter bass. More tonally correct on the Qian39 but a bit better timbre on the LBBS.
Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), a lot cleaner and detailed on the LBBS due to the faster, tighter and lower bass quantity. But also, more fatiguing due to the brighter tonality.
Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), Vocal tonality, timbre, detail, clarity and forwardness are a lot better on the LBBS. Instrument tonality is better on the Qian39 but better timbre and a lot cleaner and more detailed on the LBBS.
Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), slightly shoutier and peakier treble on the LBBS, more fatiguing.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), vocal and instrument tonality are better on the Qian39 but a lot cleaner, detailed, more forward vocals and better timbre on the LBBS.
Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars are a lot sharper and more fatiguing on the LBBS.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality and texture are better on the Qian39 but a lot better detail, clarity and timbre on the LBBS. Violin tonality, timbre, texture, detail, clarity and treble-extension are a lot better on the LBBS.
Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), better tonality on the Qian39 but better timbre, cleaner and more detailed on the LBBS.
Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), wider and airer stage on the LBBS but deeper on the Qian39. Imaging, separation and detail are leagues ahead on the LBBS. Timbre is better on the LBBS.
Overall: The LBBS is pretty much better in every way, but the Qian39 is closer to my tonal preferences and is better if you want a more relaxing, fatigue-free, bassier bud.
Conclusion: The Qian39 not only does it have an amazing sound for this price but it’s also THE most comfortable/fitting bud I have tried so far. Get it while the stock is left.
Cable source: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...zTm4ei7HEfP8AI1zxswrMw2ho/edit#gid=1801072063
Reference/test songs:
Disclaimer: I bought this on my own expense on the NiceHCK store at AliExpress. Leaving the link because it is hard to find, but this lucky bag has a 100% rate for the Qian39: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003181873387.html
Price: 6 usd
Specifications:
Accessories:
1 pair of full foams
Cable: A standard black cable, no chin-slider, fully plastic and is on the thinner side. Durability might be a concern because of that.
Build: Plastic shell, very small (smaller than usual MX500 shells) and super lightweight.
Fit: God-tier, no problems and fits extremely well. Is small enough so it gets a deeper fit than regular MX500 shell.
Comfort: God-tier, small shell and lightweight, no issues for longer sessions.
Isolation: None
Setup: Schiit Asgard 3 (low-gain, volume around 8 o´clock), full foams, stock cable 3.5mm
Lows: Mid-bass focused but still clean. Sub-bass is still a bit more elevated than most buds. Very good texture and is on the tighter/faster side. The reason for the elevated and yet clean bass, is that the shell allows a deeper fit than with regular MX500 shells, so the driver doesn’t need to compensate by elevating the bass more and the quality is higher because of that as well (probably).
Mid-bass: Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), the bass is on the tighter/faster side and quantity is a bit elevated with good texture, not that clean due to the poor separation though. The (02:55-03:01) section with the chopper is hearable but not that clean.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), Clean due to the speed/tightness but also elevated with good texture.
Sub-bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), doesn’t extend nor rumble much. Punch quantity could be a lot higher while texture, speed and tightness are pretty good.
Will Sparks – Sick like that (03:08-03:22), quantity is decent but could be higher while texture, speed and tightness are pretty good.
Mids: Excellent vocal tonality, both male and female, neutral placement, still clean despite the mid-bass focused bass and has excellent timbre as expected from a bud.
Female-vocals: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), vocal tonality and timbre are excellent, quite forward and clean as well. Instrument tonality, timbre and clarity are very good.
Yuki Hayashi – MightU (01:58-02:55), instrument and vocal tonality and timbre are excellent, very clean as well.
Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), not shouty nor peaky treble, slightly fatiguing due to the tonality though.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Crescent (02:07-02:26), slightly shouty and peaky treble, fatiguing.
Male-vocals: Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (00:57-01:17), vocal and instrument tonality are very good, clean as well.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), vocal and instrument tonality lacks warmth, and lacks some clarity, timbre is good though.
Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars aren’t sharp, very good tonality and timbre. Lacks some texture though.
Deuce – America (03:03-03:16), not peaky treble, but very chaotic due to the separation and imaging.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality and timbre are good, texture, clarity and detail could be better. Violin tonality and timbre are very good but treble-extension and detail could be better.
Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), tonality and timbre are very good, but can be cleaner.
Soundstage: Quite wide and deep even for a bud.
Tonality: Bass-boosted neutral, excellent timbre as expected from a bud, note-weight is slightly on the thicker side.
Details: Good for the price, but definitely lacking when compared to higher priced buds.
Instrument Separation: Struggles with separation on busier tracks and imaging is nothing special (not a problem for the price though).
Songs that highlight the Earbud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-u6C-LLdfsc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj5DRn7Y4ok https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLUguXpUIb0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVTXPUF4Oz4
Good genres: Rock/metal, Acoustic/vocal, Hiroyuki Sawano
Bad genres: Not much, its very versatile for my library although it does struggle more on busier tracks.
Comparisons:
Earbud: Yincrow X6, full foams, stock cable 3.5mm
Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends lower and rumbles more on the X6. Punch quantity is higher on it and more textured but a bit tighter and faster on the Qian39. More tonally correct on the X6 with similar timbre.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), a bit more bass quantity on the X6 but more textured, tighter and faster on the Qian39. More tonally correct and with better timbre on the Qian39.
Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), similarly clean because of the cleaner (less quantity, tighter and faster) bass on the X6 better separation on the X6.
Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), vocal tonality, clarity and forwardness are better on the Qian39 very similar detail and timbre. Instrument tonality is slightly better on the Qian39, cleaner but very similar timbre and detail.
Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), slightly peakier on the Qian39 and more fatiguing due to the brighter tonality.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), slightly better vocal and instrument tonality and timbre on the X6 but more forward and cleaner vocals on the Qian39
Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), extremely similar tonality and timbre as well as detail, slightly cleaner on the X6 overall.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality and timbre are very similar but slightly better texture and cleaner on the X6. Violin tonality is slightly better on the X6 as well as better treble-extension, but very similar timbre and detail.
Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), a bit better tonality and cleaner on the Qian39, similar detail and timbre.
Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), slightly wider and deeper on the Qian39 but a bit airier on the X6. Imaging, separation and micro-detail are a bit better on the X6 but similar macro-details and timbre.
Overall: Both are excellent, if you want something more fun, bassier (more V) then the X6 is your pick. If you prefer something more balanced and more mids but still pretty fun, then get the Qian39. The Qian39 is taking over my default rec for budget buds though, due to the price, comfort, fit, even though they are comparable in sound.
Qian39 | X6 | |
Sub-bass | - | + |
Mid-bass | + | - |
Lower-mids | = | = |
Upper-mids | + | - |
Treble | + | - |
Upper-treble | - | + |
Soundstage | + | - |
Imaging | - | + |
Separation | - | + |
Macro-detail | = | = |
Micro-detail | - | + |
Timbre | = | = |
Earbud: K´s LBBS, full foams, stock cable 3.5mm
Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends lower and rumbles more on the Qian39. Punch quantity and texture are also better on the Qian39 but cleaner and more detailed, faster and tighter on the LBBS. More tonally correct on the Qian39 but better timbre on the LBBS.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), a lot more mid-bass on the Qian39 and a bit more textured on it, but a lot cleaner on the LBBS due to the faster/tighter bass. More tonally correct on the Qian39 but a bit better timbre on the LBBS.
Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), a lot cleaner and detailed on the LBBS due to the faster, tighter and lower bass quantity. But also, more fatiguing due to the brighter tonality.
Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), Vocal tonality, timbre, detail, clarity and forwardness are a lot better on the LBBS. Instrument tonality is better on the Qian39 but better timbre and a lot cleaner and more detailed on the LBBS.
Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), slightly shoutier and peakier treble on the LBBS, more fatiguing.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), vocal and instrument tonality are better on the Qian39 but a lot cleaner, detailed, more forward vocals and better timbre on the LBBS.
Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars are a lot sharper and more fatiguing on the LBBS.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality and texture are better on the Qian39 but a lot better detail, clarity and timbre on the LBBS. Violin tonality, timbre, texture, detail, clarity and treble-extension are a lot better on the LBBS.
Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), better tonality on the Qian39 but better timbre, cleaner and more detailed on the LBBS.
Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), wider and airer stage on the LBBS but deeper on the Qian39. Imaging, separation and detail are leagues ahead on the LBBS. Timbre is better on the LBBS.
Overall: The LBBS is pretty much better in every way, but the Qian39 is closer to my tonal preferences and is better if you want a more relaxing, fatigue-free, bassier bud.
Qian39 | LBBS | |
Sub-bass | + | - |
Mid-bass | + | - |
Lower-mids | + | - |
Upper-mids | - | + |
Treble | - | + |
Upper-treble | - | + |
Soundstage | - | + |
Imaging | - | + |
Separation | - | + |
Macro-detail | - | + |
Micro-detail | - | + |
Timbre | - | + |
Conclusion: The Qian39 not only does it have an amazing sound for this price but it’s also THE most comfortable/fitting bud I have tried so far. Get it while the stock is left.
Cable source: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...zTm4ei7HEfP8AI1zxswrMw2ho/edit#gid=1801072063
Reference/test songs:
GOD-tier comfort: the stem sits well in my human ears and the earphones are light weight.
My first impressions are that the tone is good. Tracks are conjested: be forwarned this is not a detail bud. It is like listening to my favorite radio, that keeps things warm and can work fine with older music, but even then, it is a bit like being underneath the covers. The Qianyun Qian39 seems purposed well towards live recorded music.