In today’s feature, we review the BQEYZ Winter Ultra which is a new hybrid dual-driver universal in-ear monitor with bone conduction technology. It is priced at $269.
Disclaimer: This was sent to us as a sample in exchange for our honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or services. We thank HiFiGo for their support.
You can click here to learn more about the BQEYZ gear we have previously assessed on Headfonics.
Note, that this article follows our current scoring guidelines which you can read in more detail here.
Despite not being consistently in the Chi-Fi spotlight, the Chinese brand BQEZY has been releasing a steady number of solid IEMs such as the Spring 2 and the Summer.
Now, BQEZY is releasing an upgraded version of this unique dynamic and bone conduction driver hybrid IEM in the form of the Winter Ultra.
Sporting what is supposedly an upgraded low-frequency filter and upgraded modular cable at a $40 premium, let’s see if the Winter Ultra has what it takes to remain competitive at this price range.
Tech Highlights
The BQEZY Winter Ultra makes use of a hybrid driver configuration that combines a 12mm dual cavity dynamic driver with a unique 11.6mm PZT bone conduction driver that transmits sound waves through the bones of the skull with
According to BQEZY, the bone conduction driver has a focus on the 2k to 20k frequency range to deliver clear and detailed high frequencies without causing fatigue or harshness.
The Winter Ultra also comes with a single crystal copper-plated silver cable with interchangeable 3.5mm and 4.4mm plugs. Making the Winter Ultra compatible with a wide number of sources out of the box.
Design
The Winter Ultra has a beautiful royal blue CNC aluminum shell that BQEZY patterned after a winter lake under the sun. The shell has a smooth surface and a curved shape that fits well in the ear.
The fit and finish of the Winter Ultra is very good. Compared to other IEMs in the price range that make use of resin shells with resin or metal faceplates, BQEZY opted to construct the entire IEM shell out of CNC-machined aluminum.
The faceplate‘s curved facia is ended by a silver frame that marks the end of the faceplate and the start of the IEM shell.
When running my fingernail through the shell, the difference between the faceplate and the shell was obvious, but this is to be expected from an IEM with a metal construction. Throughout my testing, the finishing on the aluminum held up well, being resistant to micro scratches and fingerprints regardless of usage.
Comfort and Isolation
Despite its metal construction, Winter Ultra is lightweight and comfortable to wear for long periods. The shell is ergonomically shaped, fitting in and out of my ear without any issues or no pressure and irritation.
The IEM’s comfort is quite average. They are less comfortable than my comfort benchmarks the Open Audio Witch Pro, but they are more comfortable than the similarly priced Kiwi Ears Quintet. This is primarily due to the Winter Ultra’s use of a more curved and ergonomic shell design.
The isolation is decent, but not exceptional, as to be expected from an IEM that makes use of a triple-vented shell design. Some external noise can still leak through the vents and occasionally struggles to block out car noise when outdoors. However, the Winter Ultra sufficiently blocks out conversational noise.
Stock Cable
The stock BQEZY Rime cable that comes with the Winter Ultra was what first stood out to me. The Rime cable is a single crystal copper-plated silver cable with interchangeable 3.5mm and 4.4mm plugs.
This kind of cable is typically only available as an aftermarket option, so having it included out of the box is a practical value-add.
The cable is soft and flexible and does not have any microphonics or tangling issues. Each wire is wrapped in a metallic-looking sleeve that gives the cable a nice utilitarian look. The chin slider and the jack shell are constructed of a polished, dense cylinder that gives the cable an overall premium feel.
The plugs are gold-plated and have good durability. One thing to note is the connection between the main cable and the interchangeable 3.5mm and 4.4mm terminations is not as strong as I’d like.
There were occasions when I unplugged the IEMs, the detachable termination stayed onto the source device, and the cable detached via the connection point of the main cable and the interchangeable terminations.
Packaging and Accessories
The packaging of the Winter Ultra is similar to that of the original Winter but with a different color scheme. The box is black with silver text and logos and has a magnetic flap that opens to reveal the IEMs and accessories inside.
The accessories include a hard carrying case with BQEYZ branding, a cleaning brush, Three pairs of ear tips: atmosphere, reference, a balanced cable organizer, and a user manual
The accessories are another standout at this price point. Admittedly, it is not quite at the level of the TANGZU FUDU inclusions, but 3 types of tips and a stock cable with interchangeable terminations are quite good, but nothing too fancy or extravagant.
The ear tips are presented in a brushed metal frame and are color-coded according to their sound signature: red for atmosphere, black for reference, and blue for a balanced sound.
Sound Impressions
The following sound impressions were compiled using the ddHiFi TC44Pro dongle DAC and the Topping L30 II desktop amplifier for my main pairings.
Bass
The bass of the Winter Ultra is controlled and accurate, but not very powerful or deep. It has good speed and texture but lacks some weight and punch.
Instruments like bass guitars and kick drums are presented with good note weight, but they are not presented in a way that could be considered “bass heavy”, instead they are presented in a neutral manner that still maintains a satisfying detail.
808s in old-school hip hop are a particular stand out. The notes are more “felt” than “heard”. It makes listening to hip-hop music a much more engaging experience that I quite appreciate.
The sub-bass extension is moderate, but not very noticeable or visceral. The mid-bass has more presence and warmth but still maintains a good balance with the rest of the frequency spectrum. The bass does not bleed into the midrange or overshadow other details.
Mids
The midrange of the Winter Ultra is the highlight of its sound signature, as it delivers clear and smooth vocals with natural tonality and emotion. The lower mids are slightly recessed but still have enough body and richness to avoid sounding thin or hollow.
Male vocals do not have the thick “atmospheric” signature that comes across with warmer IEMs, but they still have enough weight to stop me from wanting more.
The upper mids are slightly forward, but not overly bright or harsh. They bring out the nuances and clarity of female vocals and instruments, without causing any fatigue or sibilance. Acoustic guitar and piano keys are a particular stand out. These instruments are articulated well for the price range and do so with good musicality.
This same level of articulation is carried into vocals, both male and female. Even in congested hip-hop tracks that veer toward spoken word, each syllable is easily distinguishable with no sense of vagueness, a thought task for less technically proficient IEMs.
Treble
The treble of the Winter Ultra is detailed and airy, but not harsh or sibilant. It has good extension and sparkle, but not too much to sound artificial or metallic. In specific songs I use to test sibilance, the Winter Ultra brings good energy, but never crosses the line of being fatiguing.
It adds some brightness and energy to the sound, without being too aggressive or piercing. The treble is smooth and refined, with good crispness and smoothness. It does not have any peaks or dips that would cause any discomfort or distortion.
Hi-hats and different cymbals are easily distinguishable, with different strike patterns being adequately articulated as well. The extension and slightly forward nature of the highs contribute to an exciting listening experience that isn’t fatiguing even after a prolonged listening session.
Imaging
The imaging of the Winter Ultra is average for the price range, as it creates an intimate soundstage that prioritizes detail over atmosphere at times. The instrument placement and separation are accurate and precise, with good layering and positioning. The sound does not sound flat or muddy, but rather dynamic and lively.
Synergy
The Winter Ultra has an impedance of 38 ohms and a sensitivity of 113 dB, which means it is not very hard to drive, but not very easy either. It can be driven by most dongles such as the 7HZ SEVENHERTZ 71 or the ddHiFi TC35Pro.
In my experience, the addition of a 4.4mm cable termination did do it favors since it allowed me to test the Winter Ultra with the TC44Pro, a balanced Dongle Dac.
This opened up the staging a little bit and slightly improved the individual separation of instruments. This improvement carries through when testing the Winter Ultra on my Topping L30 II.
There was a noticeable difference when going from an SE dongle to a more powerful balanced dongle, but I did not notice any differences going from my balanced dongle to a full-sized amplifier.
In my testing, I found that the ddHiFi TC44Pro brought the perfect balance of headroom and portability. While its bump in the upper mid-range may be a bit too much for some, I found this slight coloration minuscule enough not to skew the default sound signature of the Winter Ultra.
Select Comparisons
Tanchjim Kara
Technical
The Kara makes use of a single dynamic driver and 4 balanced armatures for its configuration with an impedance of 27Ω and a sensitivity of 115dB @1kHz.
The BQEYZ Winter Ultra features a 12mm dual-cavity dynamic driver and an 11.6mm PZT bone conduction driver and has an impedance of 38Ω and a sensitivity of 113 dB @1KHz. In practice, I found that the Kara was easier to drive to an acceptable listening volume.
Design
The Kara, like most IEMs in the price range, makes use of a resin shell with a separate translucent plastic faceplate. The Winter Ultra takes a more novel approach by making use of a full CNC Machined Aluminum build.
The Kara fits better in the ear due to its smaller size, making it slightly more comfortable all around and perfect for all-day listening. However, this does not mean that the Winter Ultra is uncomfortable by any means.
Performance
In terms of bass quantity, the Winter Ultra’s execution is more elevated bass hits have more power while delivering good punch slam, especially with the aforementioned 808 notes. I found bass guitar strums more relaxing and thicker with the Winter Ultra, and a bit more energetic with less note weight on the Kara.
Male vocals sounded fuller with the Winter Ultra, with female vocals coming close between both IEMs, but the Kara slightly edges the Winter Ultra in terms of energy and resolution.
The Winter Ultra does have a slightly warmer presentation in the mids, but I would say that the mids performance between the two IEMs is at par, and which would be more appealing to the listener would depend on personal preference.
The highs on the Kara are more resolving than that of the Winter Ultra, but it is also more sibilant. The microdetail between different instruments on the top end are amplified through the Kara, but they have a colder and more sibilant tonality that makes them less enjoyable than the Quintet.
Kiwi Ears Quintet
Technical
The BQEYZ Winter Ultra features a 12mm dual-cavity dynamic driver and an 11.6mm PZT bone conduction driver with an impedance of 38Ω and a sensitivity of 113 dB @1kHz.
The Quintet makes use of a 5-driver configuration with a 10mm diamond-like carbon (DLC) dynamic driver, two Knowles balanced armature (BA) drivers, a micro planar magnetic driver (MPT), and a piezoelectric (PZT) bone conductor driver.
The Quintet has an impedance of 32Ω and a sensitivity of 108 dB @1kHz. However, despite the lower SPL rating, in practice, the Quintet was still easier to drive.
Design
The Quintet makes use of a resin shell with a glossy black opaque finish and a separate metal faceplate, whilst the Winter Ultra takes a more novel approach by making use of a full CNC Machined Aluminum build.
The Winter Ultra fits better in the ear. Despite both being quite similar in size, the Winter Ultra’s more ergonomic shape makes it easier to listen to long-term. However, once again, this does not mean that the Quintet is uncomfortable by any means.
Performance
The Quintet has a stronger and deeper bass performance, whilst also having a higher level of bass articulation and texture playback.
Bass hits are not only more satisfying on the Quintet but they are presented with better texture and articulation as well. Bass guitar strums and bass drum hits are richer on the Quintet, and this feeling of warmth extends into the mid-range as well.
Male vocals have more body on the Quintet, however, all other instruments and sounds within the mid-range are presented in a more forward manner through the Winter Ultra.
In terms of resolution in the mids region, they are quite on par. Like the previous comparison, which would be more appealing to the listener would depend on personal preference.
The Winter Ultra is not as forward in the treble region, but it is also less sibilant. Cymbals and electric guitars came off somewhat metallic with the quintet, but I did not experience such issues with the Winter Ultra.
Our Verdict
At $279, the Winter Ultra is getting quite close to what I would consider mid-fi, or the $300 range upwards where the sound quality can take a considerable leap. However, it does come with a unique implementation of PZT bone conduction alongside a single dynamic driver that should make it stand out among some of the competition.
It has a neutral sound signature with a slight bump towards the mids, however, I can see how some listeners could consider this signature “boring” especially if they’re accustomed to more V-shaped IEMs.
At the price point, the BQEYZ Winter Ultra is an interesting option that provides a unique configuration, whilst maintaining a good, pleasing tonality, average-to-above-average technicalities, and a class-leading modular cable.
BQEZY Winter Ultra Specifications
- Driver Type: 12mm dual-cavity dynamic driver and 11.6mm PZT bone conduction driver
- Plug: 3.5mm Single Ended & 4.4mm Balanced
- Impedance: 38Ω
- Sensitivity: 113dB
