BQEYZ BQ-10: Insane Value!!

DISCLAIMER: The BQ-10 was sent to us free of charge by the BQEYZ Audio team for review purposes. We are truly excited and would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to the BQEYZ Audio team for their kind and continuous support of Aural Cafe.

Today at Aural Cafe, we're taking a look at BQEYZ Audio's latest ultra-budget IEM offering, the BQ-10, which features a single 12mm PET diaphragm-based dual-cavity dynamic driver setup.

BQEYZ is a Dongguan, China-based hi-fi Audio brand which started its journey in 2017 under the parenthood of Dongguan Xianchao Acoustic Technology Co., Ltd. Dongguan Xianchao Acoustic Technology Co., Ltd. is a vertically integrated company which is involved in every stage of the audio product life cycle, from independent research and development to design, manufacturing, and sales. BQEYZ Stands for “Best Quality Earphones for Your Z(G)eneration”, a name that reflects BQEYZ's commitment to delivering high-fidelity IEMs, earbuds, and audio accessories. Over the years, BQEYZ Audio has established itself as a reliable and innovative hi-fi audio brand and has launched several IEMs and earbuds, but their defining moment came in mid-2019 when they launched ‘SPRING’, the first IEM from their weather series. BQEYZ Spring was launched in a tri-brid setup that brought together a unique combination of Dynamic, Balanced Armature, and Piezoelectric drivers in a single IEM. As the season and year passed, building on this momentum, BQEYZ expanded the Weather Series with other creatively engineered IEMS, including WIND, SUMMER, AUTUMN, WINTER, and CLOUD, each pushing the boundaries of sound and design. We at Aural Cafe have reviewed BQEYZ CLOUD and FROST, which our readers and fellow audiophiles can read by clicking on the following link:
- https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/bqeyz-frost.27696/reviews#review-37269
- https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/bqeyz-cloud.27191/reviews#review-35204

Today at Aural Cafe, we're taking a look at BQEYZ Audio's latest ultra-budget IEM offering, the BQ-10, which features a single 12mm PET diaphragm-based dual-cavity dynamic driver. The BQ-10 features a Custom PET diaphragm which has been modified both physically and chemically using other materials and a special process with the aim to achieve a unique full-bodied sound exuding deep Lows and excellent Highs. The BQ in BQ-10 stands for Best Quality, while the 10 we assume stands for a 10 on 10 value of BQ-10. We would have loved to review the Type C version, but since we have received the 3.5mm variant, we will review the same for our readers and fellow audiophiles. PET (Polyethene Terephthalate) diaphragm-based dynamic drivers are commonly seen being used in IEMs and headphones from budget to mid-range models. PET diaphragm is popular due to its favourable balance of rigidity, light weight, and cost-effectiveness. Many ultra-budget IEMs, which have been a big hit among value-conscious audiophiles, have featured PET diaphragm-based dynamic drivers, sometimes blended with other materials or treated for better acoustic performance. Big hit ultra-budget IEMs such as Moondrop Chu / Chu II use a PET dynamic diaphragm driver with a titanium coating. In contrast, Tin HiFi T1 Plus uses an ultra-thin PET diaphragm driver. In fact, the very famous Sony MH755 / MH750, which are still very popular among audiophiles, features a PET diaphragm-based dynamic driver, and the recent craze Tangzu Wan'er S.G. also features a 10 mm PET diaphragm-based dynamic driver.

The BQ-10 features a Custom PET diaphragm which has been modified both physically and chemically using other materials and a special process with the aim of achieving a unique full-bodied sound exuding deep Lows and excellent Highs. The BQEYZ team has strived to fully harness the potential of the 12mm PET diaphragm by combining it with a high-purity oxygen-free copper (OFC) coil and implementing the single dynamic driver within a dual-cavity setup. The BQ-10 is equipped with a dual-cavity dynamic driver, featuring cavities both at the front and rear of the driver unit. This enclosed dual-cavity design offers improved control over air pressure compared to traditional single-cavity setups, allowing for smoother diaphragm movement. As a result, it delivers enhanced sound clarity, a wider soundstage, and impressive detail retrieval. The BQ-10 features a larger back cavity in comparison to the front, a design choice intended to make the Lows a lot more agile and dynamic, thereby enriching the overall soundstage. Although we at Aural Cafe received the 3.5 mm version, we would definitely suggest our readers and fellow audiophiles, especially the ones who are also into gaming, go with the Type-C version. The Type-C version, priced at just $2 more than the standard 3.5mm model, comes equipped with a professional DAC chip, a low-noise microphone, a software-based equaliser, and a Class G power amplifier capable of driving 16-ohm IEMs with ease. The low-noise microphone has been further optimised by combining it with the MIC algorithm of the DAC chip so as to effectively reduce noise and eliminate unwanted echoes during calls. We at Aural Cafe would strongly suggest an Audiophile cum Gamer to go with the Type C Variant as the Type C low-latency microphone ensures clear and stable team communication, while the built-in DAC chip and Class G power amplifier provide enhanced audio precision allowing gamers to pick up even the subtlest in-game sounds, from enemy footsteps and gunfire to ambient environmental effects.

The BQ-10 IEM is priced at $29.99 for the 3.5mm cable variant, while the Type-C version retails for $31.99.

• Driver Configuration: Single 12mm PET diaphragm-based dual-cavity Dynamic Driver
• Impedance: 40Ω ± 5%
• Freq Response: 20Hz-40Khz
• Distortion Rate :< 2%(1 kHz)
• Connector Type: 0.78mm 2-Pin
• Sensitivity: 107 dB/mW @1kHz
• Cable: 180 Core, 2 strands Silver Plated Copper (SPC) Cable.

Unboxing Experience, Design & Build: -

As you can see from our unboxing video (

), the BQEYZ BQ-10 arrived in an ultra-compact black cardboard box. The front side of the box prominently features a bold pic of the BQ-10 IEM offering a glimpse of its sleek, greyish brushed metal faceplate. The BQEYZ name can be seen printed at the top left corner of the box, while the BQEYZ logo is displayed at the top right corner of the box. The model’s name, BQ-10, is printed using bold dialects right at the top front of the box, while the details of the driver setup are printed just below the model’s name in English, Chinese, as well as in Japanese. While the unique feature of the BQ 10 is printed on the right side of the box, the left side of the box again features the details about the BQ-10 driver setup, which was also seen at the top front side of the box. The technical specifications of the BQ-10 are featured on the back side of the box in English, Chinese, as well as in Japanese. Upon opening the box, we are first greeted by a black paper flap on which BQ-10 and Best Quality earphones are written. The top of this flap is cut in a way revealing BQ-10’s sleek brushed-metal faceplate underneath. On removing the flap, we can see the BQ-10’s shells being placed neatly on the top side of the box with the help of a sponge cutout. The rest of the compact box is occupied by a very functional, round-shaped, black colour carry case. On opening the carry case, we come across the stock cable and ear tips of the BQ-10. Our BQ-10 review unit arrived with a 3.5mm terminated, metallic dark grey colour SPC cable which perfectly complements the BQ-10’s metallic steel grey faceplate. When it comes to ear tips, BQ-10 comes with three pairs of white-collar wide-bored silicone ear tips and three pairs of dark grey colour narrow-bore silicone ear tips in standard S, M, L sizes. All in all, the unboxing experience is simple and functional, taking the BQ-10 29.99 USD price into consideration. We at Aural Cafe especially loved the decision of the BQEYZ Audio team to go with the combination of Black and Silver when it comes to the packaging design language, as well as their decision to include a round-shaped carrying case—an uncommon and welcome addition in the ultra-budget IEM category.




In terms of build quality, the BQ-10 features a sleek black IEM housing crafted from medical-grade resin, while its brushed metallic steel grey faceplate is made from lightweight, high-strength aluminium alloy. The semi-transparent resin back allows a glimpse of the 12mm dynamic driver upon close inspection. Interestingly, we noticed three vent holes near the nozzle on each housing strategically placed to regulate air pressure for improved dynamics. The faceplate stands out with its brushed metallic finish, showcasing a bright silver "BQ" graphic logo and a refined chamfered gloss texture, courtesy of the precision brushing process. Thanks to the well-thought-out combination of lightweight black resin and metallic steel grey aluminium alloy, the BQ-10 not only looks stylish and premium but also feels exceptionally light and comfortable, making it ideal for long listening sessions without any noticeable ear fatigue. The BQ-10 comes equipped with a high-quality coaxial silver-plated copper stock cable featuring a 0.78mm two-pin and 3.5mm plug. The internal of the BQ-10 stock cable features two strands of 180-core high-purity oxygen-free copper with a silver-plated surface for stable signal transmission. Its coaxial structure, comprising a central conductor, insulation layer, shielding layer, and outer sheath, enhances the cable's resistance to electromagnetic interference. This design effectively minimises external signal disruptions, ensuring consistent and reliable audio signal transmission. On the outside, the BQ-10 stock cable features a metallic dark grey PVC sleeve that perfectly complements the BQ-10’s metallic steel grey faceplate. The stock cable is ergonomically flexible and light in weight, which we feel will aid a lot while listening to music on the go. When it comes to ear tips, the quality of the wide and narrow bore silicone ear tips is decent, taking the price of BQ-10 into consideration. Overall, the build quality of the BQ-10’s IEM shells is truly impressive. At Aural Cafe, we were genuinely surprised by the level of attention BQEYZ Audio has given to the look and the build quality of BQ-10. Despite its affordable $29.99 price tag, the BQ-10’s stylish design and solid build quality could easily rival that of many higher-priced IEMs in both looks and build quality. When it comes to fit, we were pleasantly surprised by the BQ-10’s 3D ergonomic design. Despite housing a large 12mm dynamic driver, the lightweight 3D ergonomic IEM shells provided a comfortable and secure fit throughout our testing. In terms of sound isolation, the ergonomic shell design delivers a decent level of passive noise isolation, effectively reducing external disturbances for a more immersive listening experience.




Sound Analysis: -

The sound impressions of the BQ-10 were drawn after pairing it with the stock cable and narrow bore silicone ear tips, alongside a solid, warm DAP, dongle and a desktop DAC/Amp. Among the ear tips provided, we opted for the narrow-bore silicone tips, as we felt that the BQ-10 sounded its best with narrow-bore silicone ear tips during our evaluation. All impressions were made following the recommended 50-hour burn-in period, as advised by the BQEYZ Audio team. For details on how different ear tips, cables, and sources influence the sound, please refer to the Synergy section.


Credits: @aftersound

• Tonality: - After testing BQ-10 with several hi-fi daps and dongles across different genres of music, we at Aural Cafe like to state that the tonality of the BQ-10 leans towards a neutral, uncoloured, clean sound. The single 12mm PET diaphragm-based dual-cavity dynamic driver is thoughtfully tuned to present a neutral sound signature that doesn’t sound dry. The overall presentation is open and spacious, offering excellent transparency along with a smooth, full-bodied character and impressive clarity across the entire sound frequency range. We at Aural Cafe feel that it’s the double cavity setup that makes the overall sound presentation so open and spacious, which we have rarely experienced from an IEM in this price range. Due to top-notch clarity, the micro details come out in a very organic manner without being on the surface. The lows are a bit boosted, adding a pinch of warmth across the sound frequency. The mids stay clean and stable, excuding decent note weight, while the highs extend more smoothly without any hint of shoutiness. Musical instruments such as piano, electric guitar, violin, and saxophone, which fall in the mid-range of the sound spectrum, showcase a real, lifelike timbre. This kind of mature, open and spacious sound presentation will suit the needs of gamers and cinephiles. When it comes to audiophiles like us, we enjoyed listening to Progressive rock, blues, such as Stairway to Heaven by the Rock band Led Zeppelin on BQ-10.

• Lows: - The large 12mm Custom PET diaphragm plays a big role in the low-frequency region. The lows of BQ-10 are a bit boosted to make the overall sound presentation a bit fun and foot-tapping, vis-à-vis adding a pinch of warmth across the sound frequency. The 12mm diaphragm plays the critical role in presenting a full-bodied sound signature. When it comes to sub-bass, the sub-bass performance of the BQ-10 is just decent. The 12mm diaphragm-based dynamic driver just adds a precise amount of rumble to make the sound presentation a bit fun without compromising the overall clarity. Although we at Aural Cafe loved listening to Jean du Voyage by Nakshathram while testing this part of sound frequency, we at Aural Cafe would have loved to experience a more layered subbass. When it comes to mid-bass, the BQ-10 exudes a tight, clean and well-controlled mid-bass with no noticeable bleed into the midrange. The BQ-10 mid-bass exudes foot-tapping dynamics along with decent speed and punch while taking price into consideration. We at Aural Cafe believe that it’s the double cavity dynamic driver setup that plays an important role in making the mid-bass so dynamic, fun and immersive, which at Aural Cafe thoroughly enjoyed while listening to “Heartless” by Weeknd. As for the timbre of instruments in this frequency range, such as snare drums and bass guitars, it’s decent, though slightly average in realism.

• Mids: - The midrange of the BQ-10 stands out as one of its strongest aspects. The carefully elevated low-end remains well-controlled and doesn’t bleed into the mids, allowing the midrange to remain clean and well-defined while carrying a subtle warmth, which ends up adding soul and musicality in the midrange. In terms of midrange positioning, the BQ-10 delivers a well-balanced presentation, neither recessed nor overly forward, thereby maintaining a natural and evenly placed presence within the overall sound spectrum. When it comes to vocals, the BQ-10 delivers a natural, textured, and clean vocal presentation, full of emotion and character across both male and female voices. However, we at Aural Cafe felt that female vocals, in particular, stood out a bit in terms of texture and note weight, which we thoroughly enjoyed while listening to Skyfall by Adele. The note weight is just decent if we take price into consideration. The low treble stays stable but lacks body, while the upper mids are tuned nicely and extend smoothly without any sign of shoutiness. The upper mids region of BQ-10 is tuned in a very mature manner exuding just right amount of energy which makes the overall sound presentation a bit more exciting and fun, but doing so the upper mids stays buttery smooth without any hint of shoutiness When it comes to timbre of the instruments in this range of sound frequency, such as trumpets and Saxophone delivers a very lifelike soulful timbre with lots of feel in it. All in all, the BQ-10 delivers a very clean, soulful and mature midrange which we have rarely experienced from an IEM in this price range.

• Highs: - The BQ-10 delivers very organic and spacious highs, all thanks to the 12mm PET diaphragm-based dual-cavity dynamic driver setup. The highs are smooth, airy, and refined, with no traces of harshness. Rather than being overly forward, micro-details are presented in a natural, unforced manner, contributing to a more relaxed and enjoyable listening experience. The treble remains well-resolving and extends gracefully, making it ideal for long sessions without fatigue. There's a notable sense of airiness that we thoroughly enjoyed while listening to Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin. The lower treble has good body and stability, while the upper treble extends cleanly without any sharp peaks or sibilance. That said, we at Aural Cafe did find ourselves craving for a touch more sparkle in the upper treble region, while listening to Hymn for the Weekend by Coldplay.

• Soundstage & Imaging: - The Sound stage on BQ-10 leans toward an intimate and immersive presentation with a better width in comparison to soundstage depth. While some audiophiles prefer a holographic stage, there’s a distinct group, including us at Aural Cafe, who appreciate a more immersive sound experience. For Audiophiles who enjoy that kind of immersive staging, the BQ-10 is a compelling choice. The dual-cavity driver setup contributes to the natural extension of both lows and highs, showcasing a very open and spacious sound presentation, which we have rarely come across from an IEM in this price range. We totally enjoyed experiencing the immersive soundstage on BQ-10 while listening to Thriller by Michael Jackson. The BQ-10 does a decent job when it comes to retrieving micro details, while the instrument separation is just average at best, which we realised while listening to Zombie by The Cranberries. When it comes to imaging, the quotient of the BQ-10 is decent, which we enjoyed while listening to Mausam & Escape, composed by AR Rahman for the movie Slumdog Millionaire. All in all, the technical Proficiency of the BQ-10 is better and mature if we compare it with other IEMs in this price range, but the BQ-10 could have achieved a new high if the instrument separation were a tad bit better.

• Synergy: - Given that the BQ-10 features a 12mm Dynamic Driver, we at Aural Cafe recommend at least 50 hours of burn-in to unlock its full potential. After this period, the tonality becomes noticeably more musical and soulful, with significant improvements in low elasticity and Sound stage width and depth. In terms of driveability, we're pleased to report that the BQEYZ Audio BQ-10 is relatively easy to drive, performing well even with basic dongles. However, due to its large 12mm Pet diaphragm dual cavity dynamic driver, BQ-10 truly shines and scales impressively when paired with hi-fi portable or desktop sources, with a significant improvement in the overall dynamics. We at Aural Cafe matched BQ-10 with many DAPs, cables and ear tips to get the best out of BQ-10. We tested BQ-10 with many hi-fi portable DAPs and desktop sources such as Astell and Kern SP1000M, Dethonray Prelude, DTR1+ LE, Listening M1, and Clarinet, as well as with Aune M1p and iFi ZEN 3 DAC/Amp stack. In line with our expectation, the neutral clean tonality of BQ-10 matched beautifully with warm sources such as Dethonray DTR1+ Dap and with Aune S9c Pro desktop DAC/Amp. With hi-fi warm sources such as Dethonray DTR1+ and Aune S9c Pro desktop DAC/Amp at helm, the Subbass had better rumble and resonance while the mid-bass became a lot more dynamic and punchier. We would also like to communicate that the sound stage improved a lot when BQ-10 is matched with the above-mentioned hi-fi warm sources. When it comes to portable dongles, we tested BQ-10 with a line of dongles such as iFi GO Link Max, Go Bar Kensei, Aune Yuki, and felt that BQ-10 matched at its best with iFi GO Link Max and Aune Yuki. When it comes to cables, we would like to first state that the stock cable is just decent and goes well with the neutral, clean sound tonality of the BQ-10. Although BQ-10 being a 29.99 $ IEM it doesn’t make any financial sense, we at Aural Cafe did match BQ-10 with number of aftermarket cables from hi-fi cable brands such as Linum, PW Audio, Rhapsodio, and Linksmith and reached at a conclusion that the BQ-10 performs at its best with pure copper cable instead of a SPC Cable. With solid copper cables such as Linksmith Fire Rock Poison, there was an audible improvement in BQ-10 subbass rumble. When it comes to ear tips, the stock narrow bore silicone ear tips show a better spacious and stable sound presentation in comparison with the stock white wide bore silicone ear tips. Although it doesn’t make any sense but due to our curious nonsense Audiophile brain, we ended up with BQ-10 with a number of aftermarket ear tips from brands such as Spinfit, Divinus, Symbio, Linksmith, Epro and felt that BQ-10 at its best with E-Pro propeller and Divinus Velvet Silicone ear tips.

At just $29.99, the BQEYZ BQ-10 is an exceptional value proposition for audiophiles seeking to experience a mature form of neutral sound tonality without breaking the bank. Its custom 12mm PET diaphragm-based dual-cavity dynamic driver delivers a clean, open, and spacious sound signature rarely heard in this price segment. With a smooth treble, tight and fun mid-bass, lifelike mids, and excellent build quality, the BQ-10 punches well above its weight. We at Aural cafe would have a loved to experience a better sub-bass rumble and more sparkle in the upper treble region but all said we would like to conclude this review stating that whether you're into critical listening, casual music enjoyment, or even gaming, the BQ-10 offers a compelling mix of tonality, comfort, and technical finesse that makes it a must-try for any audiophile exploring the ultra-budget IEM segment.

- https://hifigo.com/products/bqeyz-b...2UcE0xv8PsICvrqfTrsITkJTUz__EIk_aqPbZ_rYYI4LY