BQEYZ Frost Review
First of all, it’s a very good-looking IEM with fantastic build quality and the classic BQEYZ comfort in longer listening sessions. When I saw the frequency response graph before receiving the set from BQEYZ, I thought that it would be another IEM with ‘BQEYZ inhouse sound.’ But I was wrong. Surprisingly, it doesn’t sound like a bright set with less bass presentation. It has a very nice bass section with awesome mids and treble. And the pairing is also very good with all the sources I own.
It shows it’s potential if you pair it with balanced sources and with warm & analog kinds of sources; the bass region becomes more prominent and the treble section suffers a bit with less extension. I will cover it later. The supplied accessories are of good quality, especially the carrying pouch and the stock cable. You don’t need to spend extra for a ‘good’ cable. But the ear tips, both wide bore & narrow bore, are not up to the mark. I will explain it later in this review.
DISCLAIMER
BQEYZ was kind enough to send me the Frost to review. I am not affiliated with BQEYZ, and of course, I was not asked for any copy-checking before publishing. All opinions shared in this ‘BQEYZ Frost review’ are my subjective thoughts.
One thing more: The review is based on my personal experience and what I hear using different sources. Your experience may vary because of personal preference and physical differences like the shape & depth of the ear canal.
For your personal purchase, checkout GEEK MART or BQEYZ for their fantastic products and promotions (non-affiliated links).
GEAR USED
● DAP: Cowon Planue R2, Cayin N3 Ultra, iBasso DX180, Tempo Tac V3
● DAC/AMP: xDuoo MT-604, KAEI Design TAP2, ifi Hip DAC 2, xDuoo XD-05 Plus (with BB OPA 2604), Cayin RU7, iBasso DC04 Pro, Dunu DTC 480, Fosi Audio DS-1, Celest CD-10, Celest CD-20 Hidizs SD8 Pro Robin, Moondrop Dawn Pro.
● Smart Device: Poco X3, Xiaomi MiPad 5
● Files: Spotify, local Hi-Res FLAC & DSD files.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
● Driver: 10mm DD & Micro Planar
● Frequency response: 5-40 kHz
● Impedance: 32Ω
● Sensitivity: 113 dB
● Cable: Silver-plated coaxial mixed cable
● Pin Type: 2pin, 0.78mm
● Cable Length: 1.2m
● Plug Type: 3.5mm/ 4.4mm
WHAT’S IN THE BOX
● Frost IEMs
● Silver-plated coaxial cable
● 4.4mm plug (3.5mm also available)
● 6 pairs of silicon tips (S,M,L) & 1 pair of foam tips
● Carrying case
● Cleaning brush
● Some official papers
UNBOXING EXPERIENCE
The unboxing is easy and straightforward. The box is pleasant to hold in one’s hand and has a neat design that is representative of the brand’s aesthetic. Inside, you get the earphones safely positioned in a foam holder. There is also a nice-looking copper cable that enhances experience. There is a set of various ear tips that users can switch for comfort and audio. There is more in there. There is a PU leather carrying case that looks great and is tough enough to cushion the earphones in case of a drop. There is also a cleaning brush to get rid of dirt in the filter and nozzle. All of these accessories indicate that BQEYZ is detail-oriented and that it desires to make users happy.
BUILD & DESIGN
These IEMs are constructed extremely well, and you immediately notice them. They’ve got a metal casing that feels solid. Although metal, they’re also light enough that you won’t feel discomfort during those marathon listening sessions. The design is also classy-looking with that faceplate that adds some character to it. You can definitely tell there’s attention to detail with that smooth finish. The ergonomic design also means that they sit snug on you, so there’s absolutely no discomfort at all. The high-quality copper cable is also a wonderful added bonus. Coated in plastic, it feels extremely smooth to the touch. The PU leather carrying case may be plain-looking, but it’s classic in every aspect. Overall, the build and design of Frost definitely aced a wonderful combination of style and functionality that’s a joy to behold for both your eyes and ears.
FIT & COMFORT
When it comes to comfort and fit, the BQEYZ Frost is absolutely spot on for just kicking back and jamming to some music. The IEMs fit around your ears just perfectly. The snug fit feels great, and it keeps all of the background noise out, so you can completely immerse yourself in your music. They’re also super light, so you won’t even feel fatigued in your ears after hours of jamming, which is great for those marathon listening sessions. And you get tons of eartips to choose from with it, so you can easily find something that feels just right to you, making comfort and sound even better. Overall, the Frost is all about providing you with a cozy, snug fit that’s just great for just about anyone.
SOUND IMPRESSIONS
The BQEYZ Frost is genuinely well-balanced and a joy to listen to. The bass is extremely crisp with a great texture, and it strikes hard without overpowering everything else. The mids are exceedingly rich and warm, so everything in between just happens and feels alive. The trebles are smooth yet crisp, providing you with all of the detail without getting in the way. Overall, it’s fairly neutral but has that wonderful hint of warmth to it.
Here is the frequency graph:
Let’s dive deep…
SUB-BASS
So, when it comes down to the sub-bass, the BQEYZ Frost absolutely hits it out of the park with some nice, detailed bass. It’s not going to give you that ultra-thick rumble that bassheads die over, but it gets those low-end frequencies down pretty well. The sub-bass and mid-bass mix nicely, so it actually does sound nice. It contributes toward creating an equal sound that coexists well with any type of music. You find there’s plenty of definition down there, so it makes the sound pop out through these IEMs.
Listening to Richard Marx‘s “Angelia” on the BQEYZ Frost feels like a refreshing experience. Actually, it’s a real showcase of what this IEM can do with sub-bass depth and control. The song starts with this relaxing, kinda depressing atmosphere, and when the bass drops, the Frost brings out the texture of it without weighing anything down. It delivers this smooth, silky thump from the bass guitar without interfering with anything else, and it’s perfect blended with Marx’s smooth harmonies and heart-worn voice. If you’re into balanced sub-bass, the Frost delivers with clarity and without artificial boosts.
MID-BASS
The mid-bass on the earphone is incredibly clear and punchy, delivering you that sweet thump without overpowering the midrange. This balance makes the bassline sound very distinct and lively, and it just enhances the enjoyment of the tracks so much. Also, the way it keeps the mid-bass from being lost in the mids means it always gets across nice and clear. The balance does work well, so it’s an absolute blast listening to any type of music, whether it’s electronic or rock. The mid-bass adds so much fun, dynamic flavor to the Frost.
Listening to “We Will Rock You” by Queen on the BQEYZ Frost really brings on that mid-bass from the very beginning. The claps and stomp of this anthem really drive the beat, laying down a solid foundation for that necessary mid-bass. But with the Frost, not only can you feel those beats pounding away, nice and in check, but also throw tons of energy without overpowering everything else in the mix. Then, when the kick drum punches, it has this wonderful, clean feel. It doesn’t sound sloppy and overplayed, though–just exists there, and this works wonders for pulling out Freddy Mercury’s fantastic voice. The Frost does a wonderful job of containing the mid-bass from bleeding into the low end, so everything has a clean, snappy sound between the instruments.
VOCALS
MALE
Dude, the male vocals sound so warm and rich, giving you this absolutely natural and incredible listening sensation. The midrange frequency makes it clear and full, absolutely capturing the emotion and those little performance nuances. It feels as if the voices are alongside you, which is just rad if you listen to genres that center around the voice. The Frost absolutely does magic with voices, so jazz, blues, and acoustic sound absolutely authentic and detailed.
While I listened to “Just Passing Through” from Chris Rea on the BQEYZ Frost, and boy, this IEM can definitely coax a male voice. The Frost fully conveys the warmth of Rea’s husky, deep voice with crazy detail and texture. From the beginning, his voice feels very intimate and up in your ear, smooth and clean, catching every detail. You can fully feel the warmth of his voice without harshness, and even the tiny rough edges are present without being annoying. The Frost brings his voice into the spotlight, not too prominent, but in perfect proportion with the other instrumentation.
FEMALE
With the female, the voices are clear, just slightly warm, and naturally intriguing. The voices remain full but contain those annoying highs, you know, the sibilance that gets you so mad. Listening is easy and enjoyable, allowing you to pick out those little nuances and emotion. The way the Frost treats voices means pop, folk, and classical sound stylish and detailed. Fans are going to absolutely love how lifelike the voices sound, which just contributes further to the musical sensation these IEMs have going.
Listening to Shania Twain‘s “From This Moment On” with the use of the BQEYZ Frost is an immersive experience that highlights the earphones’ prowess in delivering female vocals. From the very first words, Twain’s voice glistens with excellent clarity and warmth, enveloping the listener in her genuine delivery. The Frost’s tuning delivers her voice upfront, never faltering from its position of assertiveness at the cost of the accompaniment instruments. The dynamic driver and microplanar driver combine in unison to reproduce her voice with smoothness and power. But as far as the higher pitch portion is concerned, it may hurt your ears a little if you are a sensitive listener like me.
INSTRUMENTS SEPARATION
The BQEYZ Frost does an excellent job of untangling instruments, so it’s very easy to pick out the various elements playing together. Every instrument has its own place in the mix, so nothing gets confused. If you listen to genres that involve an abundance of instruments playing together, this one is a lifesaver, whether you listen to jazz, classical, or progressive rock. The detailed imaging and soundstage complement one another very nicely, so if you enjoy listening to full, rich sound, you need to give the Frost a listen.
The BQEYZ Frost’s amazing instrument separation skill makes listening to the Eagles’ “Twenty-One” a delighting experience. Beginning from the intro, each of the guitars’ notes is brought out clearly. As the song goes on, the inclusion of the banjo, bass, and percussion is handled nicely by the Frost, each in their own respective field of the soundstage. The IEM’s ability to delineate these instruments maintains the complex interaction between them intact, and it is easy to follow each musical line. The harmonizing vocals glide sweetly over this underpinning. Even during the more intense parts of the song, the earphones prevent any clogging, and the Eagles’ arrangement can be heard fully in depth.
TREBLE
The BQEYZ Frost has this incredibly smooth, detailed treble. You’ll just pick out how clear, snappy highs are, so it makes everything sound fresh and airy. The treble does get very high, but it does so without ever being harsh, so you get to listen for hours without fatigue. What this equipment does is accentuate those little sound details, so you get to have a very fun, interesting listen. But personally, I wish it had a little bit of an extension.
Listening to FISHER‘s “Losing It” on the BQEYZ Frost is pure magic! With these earphones, you can definitely tell with the treble notes being exactly on point. The hi-hat and synth beat on this track are very clear and precise, and this keeps the whole listening experience absolutely riveting from beginning to end. And not only are the Frost’s highs precise, they’re also very lightweight, picking up every tiny detail without becoming harsh and annoying. This keeps the bright synths and thump beats alive and full of vitality, fully resonating with the music. Also, this microplanar driver has an amazing job of retaining every detail, and you can fully headbang for years without your ears becoming tired.
SOUNDSTAGE
One of the best aspects of the BQEYZ Frost is the enormous soundstage. You have this enormous, full sound that allows you to locate the instruments and voices. Having that added width makes listening so much fun, especially concerts or intricate tracks. The way the Frost achieves this kind of width and depth makes the sound sound incredibly lively, as if you’re actually there, center stage.
Listening to Air Supply‘s “The Vanishing Race” on the BQEYZ Frost feels like plunging into a whole other world where the music really reaches out and grabs you. From the very beginning, the Frost has this wide soundstage with this spacious and intimate feel. The depth of this thing is mind-blowing, with the music standing way out of the drivers with this 3D feel. Every second of the song, the Frost gets every note and every instrument its own space and its own spotlight without muddling them up. The voice sounds natural, like it’s sitting with you against the plush music background. With these earbuds performing with width and space, you can fully immerse yourself in every detail and every dynamic of the tracks.
TECHNICALITIES
These IEMs show a very good technical performence. It shoes a very good performance blended with musicality & precision.
DYNAMICS
The BQEYZ Frost absolutely gets it just right when it comes to sound dynamics. These IEMs sound incredibly lively and energetic, handling those quiet and loud spots effortlessly. Listening, with this kind of dynamic range, is an absolute ride, and the music just explodes with emotion and power.
SPEED
And the BQEYZ Frost changes gears lightning quick. The drivers spring into action when there are quick changes, so those quick tracks sound clear as day. That quick handling comes in so useful when you listen to genres that fluctuate constantly, such as electronic, metal, and jazz.
ANALYTICS
And if you enjoy that analytical sound, the BQEYZ Frost has you covered too, delivering an excellent balance. It serves up tons of details and transparency while still maintaining that musical quality. That balance makes these IEMs both revealing and fun to listen to, just perfect for immersing yourselves in those favorite tracks without it ever being too sterile or unemotional.
SOURCES
Sources are very important for an IEM when it comes to powering up the set and the synergy. Without proper power, you will miss the perfect performance, and if your source doesn’t pair well with the set, you may lose the interest of listening to it. thought the good news is that these IEMs are versatile in terms of source compatibility.
POWER
The power requirements of the Frost are minimal, as it is a very efficient IEM. This efficiency makes it suitable for use with a wide range of devices, as it doesn’t demand a high-output amp to perform. It paired well even with your basic smart devices like smartphones, tabs, laptops, etc. But if you unleash it’s full potential in terms of dynamics and detail retrieval, you need to provide it with a clean and adequate power source. I will recommend some DACs/Amps like Celest CD-10, iBasso DC04 Pro, Dunu DTC 480, Moondrop Dawn Pro, etc.
SYNERGY
It pairs very well with an array of sources and has the ability to deliver fantastic sound. These IEMs sound relatively neutral but add just enough warmth, so if you combine them with equipment that has the same kind of sound, you get this amazing, silky sound. But if you’re listening to equipment that has way too many highs, way too analytical, it does sound kinda aggressive, which gets annoying if you listen for an extended period. Trying out various source combinations makes it relatively easy to discover what you prefer. I found out that tube amps paired fantastically well with these IEMs. An inexpensive tube amp like Kaei Design TAP2 can be a good option to experiment.
CABLE & TIP ROLLING
Cable shuffling? Nah, you don’t need to, cause it comes equipped with a high-quality silver-plated copper cable that complements its sonic characteristics. But if you are interested in fine-tuning the sound, you may explore aftermarket cables to achieve a subtle change in tonality. In that case, I will suggest NiceHCK MixPP, which is a very cheap OCC cable. And if you wanna spend a bit more, you may try the Dunu Lyre Mini. In my testing, I find the OCC cables deliver a bit thicker sound profile, which I personally like.
When it comes to ear tips, you should look for a better one other than the stock one. The narrow bore ear tips that come with the Frost are a good-sounding one, but they are not comfortable in longer listening sessions and also didn’t fit very well. I tried various tips like Spinfit W1, Omni, Dunu Candy, S&S, Divinus Velvet (narrow & wide bore), Tangzu Tan Sanchi, etc. And my top choice is Dunu Candy & Spinfit W1. You may try something other than those that fits you well.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The BQEYZ Frost is very nice as an in-ear monitor, blending excellent sound quality together with some interesting technical tricks. It has this well-balanced sound that pulls out every little nuance and has this very open, expansive quality, so it plays any type of music perfectly. And it has excellent build quality and construction, both looking nice and incredibly tough. If you’re an audiophile looking for something new or just someone looking to give your day-to-day listening an upgrade, the Frost is an excellent choice you’ll find you enjoy
RECOMMENDED FOR
● Balanced sound profile lovers.
● If you love mid-bass over sub-bass.
● If you are a detailed-oriented listener.
● Treble-sensitive listeners.
● Listeners who love vocals & acoustic music.
● Mid-budget audio gear seekers.
NOT FOR
● Bass heads, treble heads, and analytical listeners.
● Those people who love a super wide sound stage.
You can read other reviews HERE.
