QKZ x HBB Earphones Review – Budget IEMs Perfect for Gaming

First Impressions

The QKZ x HBB IEMs come in standard packaging, similar to other brands such as KZ and TRN. 

Looking into the box, the IEMs were well presented. However, the packaging isn’t anything special which is completely fine because what matters is how the IEMs sound.

When I took out the QKZ x HBB IEMs from the box, I was impressed with their design and how classy they look with the black color and gold accents. 

The IEMs also have some marble design with the logo of Hawaiian Bad Boy on the right earphone and QKZ’s branding on the left, both in gold finishes.

Build Quality

The build quality of these IEMs is excellent. They look quite sturdy and durable.

The QKZ x HBB IEMs have a detachable silver-coated cable that effectively reduced the stethoscopic effect. 

For the price, these IEMs don’t look and feel cheap. If well-taken care of, I feel like they would last for a long time.

Comfort

These IEMs fit my ear like a glove. 

Since they have a very familiar IEM shape to them, I’ve had no problems wearing them for hours on end.

If I could change one thing with these IEMs, it would have to be the ear tips that are included. That’s because I couldn’t get a comfortable and secure fit with them.

In addition, the ear hooks that came with the cable were loose and quite uncomfortable but it wasn’t a big deal for me as I could easily swap them out with a better one.

Sound Quality

The QKZ x HBB changed my perspective on how V-shaped IEMs should sound. 

As my second pair of V-shaped IEMs next to my TRN ST1, the QKZ x HBB impressed me with its sound separation and imaging.

I immediately noticed how the bass sounds more elevated than other frequencies, but it’s not too overpowering and muddy, which is common with budget IEMs. 

I never experienced any sibilance or harsh frequencies when testing them out which is quite impressive, so kudos to QKZ and HBB for doing a great job tuning these IEMs.

Bass

The bass frequencies on these IEMs shine above all their features. 

I liked how it’s punchy and aggressive in a mix, which HBB IEM collaborations are known for.

Although the bass is tuned to stand out in a mix, it doesn’t muddy up the sound. Instead, it achieves a rather lively sound that’s really enjoyable to listen to.

Sometimes, I experience some mid-bass bleed when listening to low-end driven tracks such as metal and hip-hop but other than that, the bass is tuned just the way I like it – present and punchy but manageable.

Mids

The mids on the QKZ x HBB have some recession in specific frequencies, particularly in the high mids but I feel QKZ and HBB intended it to sound that way to complement the bass even more. 

I think that this leads to a warm sound. If so, this IEM nailed it for me. They were entertaining when listening to some jazz and lo-fi hip-hop tracks.

Treble

Like the mids, the treble on these IEMs sounds like it was made to complement other frequencies, making it sound warm in the ear. 

Although it doesn’t have the brightness and bite that others may be looking for, it still retains details and keeps everything in control, so it doesn’t have harsh frequencies. 

This, for me, is a great deal as they tend to sound less fatiguing even in long periods of use.

Music Listening Impressions

I’ve tested the QKZ x HBB against different genres of music to see where it would work best, and these are my findings:

• Hip-hop – These IEMs were able to highlight drum and bass tracks with their punchiness. The sound imaging also helped a lot when presenting reverb in a mix, especially on the hi-hats and snare hits. Tracks used: Money Trees (Kendrick Lamar), Jimmy Cooks(Drake, 21 Savage), California Love (2Pac, Roger, Dr. Dre)

• EDM – The QKZ x HBB has a quick bass response which works well with EDM tracks. The only downside is that it needed more mids on tracks like Drip. Tracks used: Drip (Boombox Cartel, Dillon Francis, Desiigner), Pay No Mind (Madeon, Passion Pit)

• Rock – Guitars, bass, and drums sounded tight, especially in the low end, and the mids were present enough to compliment the bass frequencies. Tracks used: No One Knows (Queens of Stone Age), Man in the Box (Alice in Chains), Them Bones (Alice in Chains)

• Funk – The QKZ x HBB’s boomy bass worked well on tracks with real bass instruments, such as Dean Town and Them Changes. It added more body and color to the tracks. Tracks used: Dean Town (Vulfpeck), Them Changes (Thundercat)

After testing out the QKZ x HBB, I found out that its warm sound signature pairs up really well with songs that are bass-heavy in a mix.

Gaming Impressions

Whenever I’m trying out new IEMs for gaming, I test them out for two things: sound Imaging and sound separation. 

The QKZ x HBB IEMs were able to tick both of them for me as I was met with great sound separation and imaging. This is important when playing FPS games such as Valorant and CS: GO, which are very reliant on sound cues.

I also noticed that the bass’s elevation from its tuning helped improve the gaming experience, as the sounds feel more lively and present.

Conclusion

The QKZ x HBB IEMs have since been my go-to pair when gaming, as their sound signature fits right in the games I casually play. 

These IEMs have a great soundstage and sound separation, which gives you an edge when playing competitive games.

The warm sound and the boomy bass make things sound even livelier, which can give you a great listening experience.

These IEMs earned their spot on my rotation, and I sometimes grab them whenever I want to listen to some bass-heavy tracks. 

This is an excellent pair for casual listening purposes, as it ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to versatility. Not only is it great for gaming uses, but it also has its own strength in music listening sessions.

And for less than $20, it shoots way above its price.

The QKZ x HBB is an excellent all-rounder pair of IEMs, and I’d highly recommend it to those who love warm-sounding IEMs or even to bass heads looking to try something new for a change.

This post was last updated on 2024-12-10 / Some images from Amazon Product API & some links may be affiliate links which may earn us a commission from purchases.