Cloud 9 On Treble-Land

BQEYZ have concluded with their seasonal theme and they have ended it with a bang after the success of the Winter IEM that has been received very well. We here at Audiomonsta have covered most of their products and we are honestly impressed with their unique tuning that sounded amazing. They now have their eyes set to impress the community even more with their new theme of the elements with their latest release, Cloud which I am stoked as I am a fan of their products and I do feel that they are overlooked at times. The Cloud is equipped with a single dynamic driver and a passive driver that they named ‘air assistive driver’ to further tune the overall sound and only a select few of producers go down this lane of drivers settings which makes the Cloud a unique product to start with.

A huge thanks to Elle from BQEYZ for this opportunity in reviewing the cloud and I am truly grateful. Will Cloud bring a new, successful start of the elemental series? We shall find out here.

Functions & Specifications

Before we start the review, here are the specifications of the all new BQEYZ Cloud;

• Drivers: 1 x 10mm Dual Cavity LCP Dynamic Driver + 1 x 6.8mm Passive Auxiliary Dynamic Radiator
• Impedance: 32Ω
• Sensitivity: 110dB
• Frequency response range: 7Hz-40kHz
• Connector: 0.78mm 2-pin With User Selectable 3.5mm, 2.5mm or 4.4mm
• Cable Length: 1.2m
• Cable material: 2 Core Mixed Coaxial Crystal Silver-Plated Copper braid

The BQEYZ Cloud can be purchased at various platform like AliExpress, Shopee and many more platforms worldwide;

https://my.shp.ee/wAh9bh4

https://a.aliexpress.com/_ontmYwV

Packaging & Accessories

The packaging here comes in a small rectangular  box with a unique relaxed pastel colour that really suits the cloud theme. The insides packaging is rather simple for their price but they are indeed packaged neatly that includes the earphones head itself, a high quality coaxial OCC that users can select from 3.5mm, 2.5mm or 4.4mm, 6 pairs of various sized silicone eartips (3 pairs of wide bore, 3 pairs of narrow bore) with a steel holder, a pair of foam eartips in a small box, some paperworks, a hard PU leather case and a cleaning brush. A simple yet complete packaging but given the asking price, users might expect a more lavish unboxing experience. At the end of the day, the main product is where I usually place the value of the performance of the product.

Design

The design language here is spot on especially on the light green colour that goes superbly with their cloud theme as they are softly coloured that has a cool, relaxed look to them. They are made from CNC aluminium with a small sized, slightly matte body that provides great ergonomics and fits like a glove. The faceplate is simple, free of any branding and has 2 curved lines that are simplistic yet elegant which I am a fan of. Simple, unique and classy.

The Cloud is equipped with a 10mm liquid crystal polymer diaphragm that has dual cavity and they are assisted by a 6.8mm passive auxiliary dynamic driver similar to the Simgot EA2000 and the Letshuoer DZ4. BQEYZ has stated this passive driver as an air assisted diaphragm that counterbalances the air pressure within to provide more air and that provides a more open, spacious overall sound which isn’t a gimmick as the Cloud does sound very open and airy.

The nozzle is made from metal and is fitted with a metal mesh. Nozzle length is medium to long in length and has a diameter of around 5.5mm.

Both types of ear tips come in a high quality metal holder in 3 different sizes. 3 pairs of eartips have a slightly larger bore (atmosphere) while the other 3 have a narrower bore with a slightly longer body (reference).

The hard case is made from PU leather with a metal zipper.

The Cloud has a standard flush type of 0.78mm connection. There is a rectangular vent located at the sides of the body and another vent is situated near the nozzle. They have no driver flex and that usually indicates it has a well vented design. The Cloud does have a rather open sound that has minimal sound isolation but that gives a more open sound than the usual IEM.

The cable provided is a high quality 2 core OCC copper mixed with silver with metal splitter, a chin slider and a choice of plugs that includes 3.5mm single and balanced 4.4mm or 2.5mm termination. The build is a coaxial build where the negative cable also acts as a shield for the main conductor. The cable does feel good with a soft and pliable cable but they are a little on the thinner side. As for the sound, they do possess great details and clarity but they do sound a tad thin in their midrange and also lean in the bass department.

Gears Used for Comparisons

Fiio Q7

Questyle M15

Hiby FC6

FiiO BTR7

Intime Sho DD

BQEYZ Winter

Hidizs MP143

Letshuoer S08

RHA MA750i

Hiby Lasya

Rose Technics Star City 5 Pro

Moondrop A8

Dunu Luna

 

Songs list

Tone and Presentation

The tone of the BQEYZ Cloud is a neutral bright sound that has a well done bright tuning to them. They do have a unique mild ‘L’ shaped sound that has a boosted treble with an energetic high frequency that possesses a great, crisp and sparkly sound. They sounded neutral flat in their midrange and low end providing a rather natural, clean and clear sound that goes well with their overall sound along with some warmth present in the midrange to provide some lushness. Their technicalities here are very competent and they possess a sublime clarity across the whole frequencies along with an open diffuse-field sound.

Soundstage

The Cloud possesses a good width soundstage with good depth along with a decent height that is competitive when compared to the competition around this price range. The soundstage does sound quite holographic with an accurate spatial sound that is airy and open. They do possess a superb amount of air in the whole frequencies but do lack isolation in return. The soundstage performs well in their far field sound dispersion but doesn’t perform near field sound as good. Some lower end sound may seem a little distant or lack impact but not a deal breaker.

Separation and Timbre

Separation is superb and one of the strengths of this IEM as they are a very well implemented single dynamic driver that showcase a superb stereo sound that has no crosstalk issue. The sound from left to right, vice versa, is separated very well partly due to their openness and they are accurate. Timbre here is breathy, mildly piercing and has a clinical sound but isn’t too dry to the point of being lifeless. The higher range timbre here is spot on as they are crisp, natural and have amazing air to them that makes vocals sound amazing.

Drivability

The Cloud is rated at 28 ohms at 110 dB sensitivity which is pretty standard, easily driven in terms of volume to sufficient loudness but they do benefit with some amplification and just a little more than usual driving power to sound their best. Simple dongle will do the trick in providing decent loudness but bluetooth or normal audio jacks might need to be set at nearly the maximum volume. With a normal output source, I do find the Cloud’s dynamism is kind of restricted and they do sound thinner overall. Their scalability here is actually rather decent as with a matching source, they perform like a totally different beast. They tend to match warmer sources from the likes of AKM and  Cirrus Logic to complement their bright tone and to provide better weight to their sound. The Cloud is unforgiving in nature as they are transparent to show all flaws in a poorly mastered track and low bitrates tracks won’t do justice to them which can be a good thing for critical listeners.

The Bass (Low)

The bass is where I do find the setback of the Cloud for some users out there. It is a flat neutral bass that has practically zero mid bass lift and has an early roll off bass that makes the Cloud weak in this department. The bass isn’t muted in any way but they are indeed lacking in weight and will not suit those who want an immersive, big bass response. On the other hand, for purists the bass is actually good for their amazing clarity and the amount of detail is rather great suiting genres such as acoustics, metal and rock. Bass bleed is non-existent and this type of flat bass response actually diverts the attention to the mid and higher range providing a clearer overall presentation without any masking from the bass. Bass here is resolving with a good textured bass that is natural and transparent. Sub-bass extends deep but the rumble here is average with soft but clean rumble. The overall bass here has a great amount of air that makes the response wide and open giving a rather big room effect.

The Mids

Midrange is neutral with a mild warmth and thickness that has a balanced overall frequency. They do sound a tad bright partly due to the boost in the higher range and they have a slightly forward sound with a good width midrange. Details here are top notch as the Cloud has amazing detail retrieving capabilities with macro and micro details being presented in a good amount without skipping a beat. Clarity here excels as well with dialogues or lyrics being portrayed clearly without any haze. The Cloud is actually a true vocal champion be it male or female vocals, they are able to sound sweet, lush and clean providing a good brilliance in the mix. Genres such as acoustics, pop and even instruments like guitar or violins are presented in a sweet manner that is just inviting. Airiness is superb with an accurate placement of sound giving a natural sound performance. For those lower notes instruments, they do lack some body or musicality mainly towards the lower midrange but aren’t as acute and still acceptable. Coloration here is pretty much few and far between producing an accurate sound while still able to sound lively.

The Highs

High range here is the pièce de résistance in the Cloud as they are surely the main dish here. They have a boosted high range that have an almost reference neutral sound and they are very well extended with a slow roll off. They are strong to say the least but managed to sound smooth and sibilant free. Details and clarity here is sublime with a super crisp decay that has a great, natural timbre almost like an electrostatic driver’s technicalities. Pace is fast here with a slight peak in the 8 to 10 kHz region and they have an amazing sparkle that provides music with excellent life and energy. Resolution here is average but the transparency is excellent with music sounding true with some spiciness to them. Treble here has a slight intensity and for those who look for a low treble or treble sensitive users might want to take note but for me, the treble here is spot on. The overall high range here isn’t shouty or harsh but very well cooked in my opinion and probably one of the best in their price range for bright tuned IEMs.

Comparisons

VS HZSound Luna

The HZSound Luna is the latest release from them and they are all fitted with a planar driver. They have an identical L shaped sound that has a boost in the higher region and have a flat lower end. The Cloud does cost more than the Luna and Luna does have a better unboxing value but both have amazing design along with a solid build on both. Fit on the Luna cover fuller in the ear concha for their larger body while the Cloud has a more ergonomic fit for their smaller size.

High range

Highs on both are very similar with a boosted treble sound but there is a difference in their presentation with a crisper sound on the Cloud and a sweeter sparkle on the Luna. Extension and air is better on the Cloud with slightly better details and clarity. Treble on the Luna is more intense marginally with a slightly better resolution. Speed and decay does sound better on Cloud.

Midrange

Mids on the Luna do sound more recessed than the forward mids on Cloud. Cloud mids do sound warmer and Luna upper mids are brighter. Vocals on Cloud sounds more intimate and lusher with more details and clarity present. Resolution and transparency is on par with each other. Cloud mids here do sound airier and wider but sound thinner than Luna.

Bass

Bass on the Luna is slightly bigger although both are a flat neutral bass. Cloud bass has the upper hand in airiness and has a slightly better slam. Sub-bass on the Luna is deeper but the Cloud sub-bass is cleaner and clearer. Details on Cloud are better along with better clarity.

Soundstage

The soundstage on the Cloud is wider but height is practically the same. Overall air on the Cloud  had the upper hand and they sounded more open and spacious.

Overall, I do find the Cloud to be a direct upgrade to the Luna being the same signature IEM.

Vs BQEYZ Winter

The legendary Winter from BQEYZ and they are the flagship series in their line up. Equipped with a single dynamic driver and a bone conduction driver to produce a well balanced IEM that stood the test of time. They do cost a little more than the Cloud but they are a more well balanced sound. Both are very well built but the fit is more comfy on the Cloud.

Highs

The Cloud has a stronger and crisper high range while the Winter has a wider high range due to the bone conduction driver doing its job. Sparkle on both is good but Cloud has a spikier sound. Winter high range is more forgiving and has better extension while Cloud has better air and openness. Resolution on high ranges is better in the Winter.

Midrange

Winter mids sound thicker and have a better balance in the lower and upper mids. Resolution is also better here but transparency is given to Cloud. Details and clarity is similar but Cloud does sound clearer due to the brighter signature. Winter is more flexible for a wider range of genres with a more musical sound and Cloud is mainly suited for vocals and acoustics for their transparency and brilliance.

Bass

Bass in the winter has a mild mid bass lift that has better slam and roll off a little slower for a more present bass. Details and clarity does go to Cloud in a small margin. Sub-bass of both is rather similar with a deep extension and an average amount of rumble.

Soundstage

Cloud does have a slightly wider and taller sound but Winter has a better 3D representation in the soundstage and both do have a good amount of air.

Synergy

Hiby FC06

Hiby FC06 is a trickled down Darwin R2R architecture in a portable audio dongle form. They have a smooth, analogue sound that is lush and organic with a good technically in their sound and they match the bright sound of the Cloud tremendously. They only have a 3.5mm single ended output but have an adequate power delivery that is enough for most IEMs out there and just right for the Cloud. This synergy really does go well providing an extra organic sound to sound more musical and less dry.

Bass is slightly stronger and tighter with a slight mid bass lift that gives the bass more presence. Bass is deeper and they are better textured.  Resolution is better as they have a more vivid imaging. Sub-bass amount is added by a stronger rumble with better extension marginally.

Midrange possesses a thicker sound and has a lusher sound. Vocals sounded more organic and had better tonal balance. Midrange also added body to them while retaining the same slightly forward sound and some extra warmth added. Resolution is better with a more vivid sound.

High range has a slight decrease in their treble and they are still strong in their overall high range. Sparkle and crispness remained the same but they sounded more forgiving in the 8k kHz region reducing fatigue in louder volume.

Soundstage has seen improved width and height with the same size headroom.

FiiO Q7

The Q7, a monster of a transportable DAC amplifier in 2024 and they are the flagship in the Q series in FiiO. They are equipped with a single Sabre ES9038pro dac chip along with dual THX 788+ boasting a 3000 mw power with the DC power supply. They have a bright to warm sound that has tons of power to drive any IEMs and most of the headphones around. The synergy here actually brings out the fullest potential of any IEM as it provides a much stable driving power and a cleaner source.

Bass is tighter, faster with a mild mid bass lift sound with slower roll off though still a little lean. They have a deeper sub-bass extension with a slightly stronger rumble. Resolution has a slight increase and they sounded thicker with an overall bigger bass response with the same clarity. The bass here actually sounded slightly fuller and had a bigger impact along with the same amount of details and clarity.

Midrange has a better near field effect with extra intimacy and is pushed slightly towards the ears creating a fuller sound that goes well with their openness. Vocals sounded lusher and intimate with an increase in body and weight. There is an improvement in their resolving capabilities and the mids aren’t does sound deeper marginally.

Highs has a better, more controlled sound that makes it kind of smoother with less peaks in a small margin. Not much has changed here and they are slightly more polished highs.

Soundstage height and width is better with a wider, airier sound overall.

Who Is It For?

The BQEYZ Cloud is for treble connoisseurs that love a bright sound with amazing technicalities while being very controlled and smooth at the top end. They are probably the best bright signature IEM in this price range indeed. They are for those who love vocals and string instruments as they convey excellent transparency and clarity without sounding too dry or thin. They aren’t for bassheads for their light, flat bass instead for those bass purists who don’t want the bass to obstruct the other frequencies while still being present. The extra clarity from Cloud with a wide, accurate soundstage goes well with gaming and movies dialogue but may lack immersion in the lower frequencies. Fit and build is superb and is suitable for daily outdoor usage but not recommended for planes or trains as they lack a good isolating sound.

Final words

BQEYZ has certainly been quite consistent with their sound that emphasises on the upper region except for the Wind that has the warmest sound of their lineups. The Cloud is for sure a treble head’s dream EM in this price range and punches above their asking price and a beautiful cloud theme design that is elegant to go with the product. While for those who wanted a fuller low end, the Cloud does sound a tad bit thin and have a rather unappealing amount of bass that isn’t suited for modern genres such as hip-hop, EDM and even jazz genres but for those seeking pleasure in the vocals department, the Cloud is for you as vocals on these babies sounded sublime. Vocals are full of energy, sweet and natural with great brilliance on top. I would almost give them a perfect score for their excellent performance and value, but I do think the low end needed some extra kick to complete the sound. Nevertheless, still a great job done indeed yet again from the team of BQEYZ.

I would rate the BQEYZ Cloud a 4 and a half stars over 5