Introduction
BQEYZ China has been consistently releasing great in-ears recently and honestly, they are all great in performance and their design as well. Releases such as Summer, Spring and one of my favorites, the Autumn has surely caught users attention and their ears with their fantastic sound profile along with a great innovative design as well. Recently they have introduced a new in-ear, aptly named after a gem, Topaz, to follow up on their well known signature coaxial piezoelectric technology dynamic driver that has minor improvements over the previous generation like in the Summer and Spring in-ears, promising a better treble control along with the usual masterful tuning to showcase the company’s capabilities. BQEYZ has kindly sent us a pair of Topaz for an honest take on their performance and we are grateful for the opportunity given. How will they fare in this stacked mid range arena that has contenders mushrooming out so frequently? We shall find out.
Functions & Specifications
Before we start the review, here are the specifications of the BQEYZ Topaz :
- Driver type: 13mm Liquid Crystal Polymer diaphragm with dual cavity design + 2nd Gen 9-layers Piezoelectric Ceramic Driver
- Shell: 5-Axis anodized aluminum faceplate, resin shell
- Impedance: 32 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 108dB
- Frequency Range: 5-40KHz
- Pin Type: Detachable 2 pin 0.78mm
- Cable type: 4-Core OCC Silver-plated, user selectable termination of 3.5mm, 2.5mm or 4.4mm
- Color: Violet or gray
Retail Price & Where to Get
The BQEYZ TOPAZ is currently priced at ~ RM419.00.
Purchase Link : https://invle.co/cld43rr
Packaging & Accessories
The packaging of the Topaz is a straight to the point simple packaging that includes all the necessities like 6 pairs of eartips in various sizes, a PU leather case, the cable, a cleaning brush and the earphones itself. Though it is simple. I really do like the design of the box, it is rather cool and well designed with the information printed on the back.
Design
The design of Topaz really does mimic the shape of their sibling Autumn as they have the same cut out and shape like the Autumn but with different faceplates. The outer faceplate is made from CNC aluminum that has their back vents cleverly placed on the “Q” and “O” of their brand and model name. The inner side of the in-ears is made from resin while their nozzle is made from metal. It is pretty well built to be honest and they fit quite ergonomically but isolation on these areas doesn’t have the suction like other in-ears but that’s fine for me.
The Topaz is equipped with a 13mm LCP dynamic driver that works in tandem with their 2nd generation 9 layer piezoelectric technology that apparently BQEYZ has patented and they are well known to have a superb treble strength along with a higher definition in sound. The cable included is a 1.2 meter, user selectable 3.5mm, 2.5mm or 4.4mm upon purchase, 4 core silver plated OCC cable with a 2 pin 0.78mm plug on the earphone side that is well braided and looks premium. They are quite soft and they sounded amazing with great clarity and provided smoother high range extension when tested even with my other in-ears. Two thumbs up for the cable.
Gears Used for Comparisons
FiiO M17
Questyle M12 & M15
LetShuoer S12
TinHifi P1Max Panda
Gold Planar GL20
Rose Technics QT9 MK2
Hidizs MD4
BQEYZ Topaz
Dunu EST112
Songs list
Tone and Presentation
The tone of the Topaz is best described as a balanced signature without any emphasis on any frequencies with a slightly warm and smooth sound that has all the details embedded. They are able to push out a good amount of treble energy but don’t have the piercing highs like in the Summer in-ears. They sound quite natural in their sound reproduction and they are quite fun to listen to with a slight energy in their low end along with a neutral midrange to suit a wide range of music genres.
Soundstage
The Topaz is rather good for their price and they are able to give a good amount of air along with an open soundstage. They have a good width and possess a good height as well. Positioning on the Topaz are superb as they are able to show the layers of music played and they perform well with either vocals or instruments. They are able to give a good headroom with an average sized room. Overall, they are quite good in this department for their asking price.
Separation and Timbre
Separation is great on the Topaz as they are a finely tuned single dynamic driver in-ear and they are able to convey layers in music with no congestion even with busy, fast tracks like metal or EDM genre. Cohesion that they are able to produce is good with music sounding in harmony. Instruments and vocals are natural and organic with a perfect thickness to it but they do lack some energy on some music. Their timbre is quite good as they are quite accurate sounding without any metallic sound.
Drivability
Rated at 32 ohms with a 108db sensitivity, they are easily driven and a simple setup like a dongle is sufficient for them to shine. With a great DAC/amplifier, DAP or a more powerful source, the Topaz does sound better but the scalability is minor, therefore they are actually good in terms of a simple casual outing in-ears. They are forgiving in their nature and not really picky on the type of files played but do perform slightly better with well mastered tracks with higher bitrates.
The Bass (Low)
This is where I have a mixed feeling for the in-ears, the bass. The bass quality is rather quite good in their quality and quantity. They are clear in nature with a great mid-bass slam that is tight and they are simply awesome for EDM or jazz genres. Details all are intact without any bleed present. Their bass texture is great making music sound more soulful and lush. On the other hand, their sub-bass is kind of recessed in my opinion as they lack a deep sub rumble that makes certain genres a little lack in energy. They seem to have a rather polite sub-bass response and they are quite evident with EDM music or with movies. Overall, the bass is kind of a hit or miss for me as they indeed possess a truly good quality bass but I do feel that they lack a deep sub-bass response to give certain music an energetic enjoyment.
The Mids
The Topaz mids is a neutral type of mids that has a smooth, vivid and lush sound that is very enjoyable for a wide range of genres. They have a slight forwardness to them making vocals sounds more upfront and they blend in very well with the other frequencies. They have a mild warmth to their presentation with all the details intact without any recessed midrange present. Macro details on the Topaz are great with all the major notes sounding clear as day but the micro details here are quite average for the asking price. Clarity and resolution is superb on these in-ears with an organic, vivid and lively sound making them a very enjoyable set for vocals or instruments alike. Overall. Their mid range performance is quite good for their price range with an accurate and lively signature that works great on most genres out there.
The Highs
The high range of the Topaz is a superbly tuned high range that sounded velvety smooth without all the spikiness and shout present like in the Summer in-ears. They are indeed a more forgiving treble that is less intense suited for those treble sensitive users out there. Though their amount is toned down a little, their quality remains sublime as their details, clarity and extension is great showcasing a true piezoelectric technology sound that has matured over the years. Their high range does lack a little energy like on the Summer in-ears but they do have a lush signature that do not incur any fatigue even for a long listen. Overall, their high range is what I would call a toned down, mature tuning that has all the qualities of a piezoelectric driver that sounded great.
Comparisons
VS Tforce (TangZu) Yuanli
Tforce or now known as TangZu Audio Yuanli is the company’s debut in-ears that has a single DD driver that has a neutral sound that has been a legend in the midrange arena. Though they are discontinued, they are still great in-ears for their price. Both are priced quite similar and their builds are quite great.
The high range on the Yuanli is bigger and more forward but the quality of the treble is better on Topaz. Extension on Topaz is slightly better with more micro details present. Air on Yuanli is better by a small margin.
Midranges on Topaz sounded a little thicker and warm as opposed to the clear, neutral sound of the Yuanli. Clarity on the Yuanli is better with more prominent micro details. Lushness on the Topaz is better and they sound better on vocals.
Bass quantity on the Yuanli is slightly bigger but the quality on both of them is on par with each other. Sub-bass presence is where the Yuanli won this battle with their deeper sub-bass rumble. Clarity in the bass on Topaz is better by a small margin. Soundstage on the Topaz sounded deeper and taller with a better air but in a small margin.
VS Letshuoer S12
The Letshuoer S12 is the latest release from them that is equipped with a planar magnetic driver that has a deep energetic sound favored by audiophiles all around. They are slightly pricier than the Topaz.
High region on the S12 has the better quantity and they sparkle better with better energy. Topaz high range has a smoother take on them and they are more forgiving. Details on the Topaz high range are slightly better.
Midrange of the Topaz sounded clearer and lusher while the midrange on the S12 sounded thicker. Details on the Topaz are clearer but details on both are on par with each other.
Bass on the S12 has the bigger quantity and quality especially on the sub-bass region. Mid bass quality wise is better on the Topaz and they have better control here. Details in the bass of the Topaz sounded slightly better.
Soundstage in the Topaz sounded airier and more open but in terms of their width and height, they are almost the same.
Synergy
FiiO M17
The top of the line of FiiO’s DAP is the beast, M17 and when it comes to driving power and packed with high end features, they have been touted as one of the DAP around. They have a wide range of gain levels and I found the low gain suits the Topaz best. The bass the M17 is able to give the Topaz is providing them a bigger bass presence but their sub-bass remains a little recessed. Details are pushed up a level along with a greater extension in the whole bass department . Midrange sounded clearer and slightly clearer with vocals sounding a little clearer. High range sounded livelier with better extension on them along with an airier performance. Also it extended the treble more with a little more intense signature overall. Soundstage that they provide is great as the improvement in the width and height is great by making them sound bigger and gives an extra airiness to them. Overall, the Topaz benefited from the clear signature from the M17 to make the Topaz sounded pretty darn good.
Questyle M15
The Questyle M15 is my kind of dongle DAC/amplifier as they sounded really great with their Questyle’s signature direct current amplification and I believe they are the one to beat in this dongle war. They are a neutral to bright sounding device for a portable usage with a great extension on both ends. Bass on the Topaz has the same quantity but in terms of quality, they sounded tighter with a clearer bass response overall. Sub-bass extension is slightly better in their recessed presence but still quite lacking for my taste. Midrange has a more forward presentation with better clarity, making music sounds livelier and more energetic. High quantities have increased by a little and they have a more energetic sound to them making their high range quality pretty awesome. Sparkle on the Topaz sounded crisper and extension on them has increased. Soundstage stayed mostly the same on this pairing but they have a bigger headright and air to them but in a small margin. Overall, I do find the synergy of this pair is quite good and it is maybe my best recommended pairing for Topaz.
Who Is It For?
For dynamic driver enthusiasts, the Topaz is a well tuned dynamic driver that has a touch of piezoelectric treatment that has a smooth high frequency without the harshness like in the previous generation. They are well suited for those who want solid in-ears that are pure sounding and smooth from top to bottom along with an open soundstage. Sub-bass lovers might find this region a little lacking, therefore not really suited for EDM or jazz genres but they shine with vocals and rock genres.
Final words
BQEYZ is truly making the best quality earphones for you and with their innovative minds, the Topaz has been born with a great maturity in their tuning. Their evolution of their in house piezoelectric technology has been tuned pretty well in this in-ears along with a great build quality and a stock cable that has been one of my favorite stock cables that comes in an in-ear. The only downside of Topaz for me is the slightly recessed sub-bass response that makes some music genres a little lacking in their energy but their mid bass quality is quite good. The Topaz along with Autumn has truly showcased what they are capable of and I am stoked to see what they will release next as they truly showed us their capabilities these past years. Great job BQEYZ!
I would rate this product 4 over 5 stars
