Intro
Today we’re checking out an upgraded Bonus IE which is called BIE Pro.
I had the Bonus IE and I liked how it sounds despite the fact that I'm not a basshead. VE is unlike other Chi-Fi companies who’s churning out products after products at subpar quality. They take their own sweet time to get the tuning right and decide to release it whenever they see fit.
Packaging/Build/Comfort
BIE Pro came with a traditional VE kind of packaging. A denim styled storage/carrying case containing the BIE Pro itself and the eartips. The build is similar to Bonus IE as far as i can tell except for the color and BIE Pro now sports a MMCX connector which allows you to cable roll if you like to. Personally, the SLQ(Soft,Light,Quad) cable is good enough and it feels premium to me. It is as the name suggests, it’s soft and light.
The build of BIE Pro does feel a little hefty, however, throughout the time when I was wearing it, no discomfort was noticed, do bear in mind that not everyone’s ear shape is the same, so your mileage might vary.
Source
Foobar2k -> E1DA 9038s -> BIE Pro (4.4 to 2.5)
Foobar2k -> OHD 4.4 -> BIE Pro
Cayin N3 Pro -> BIE Pro
*Audiosense’s S400 eartips M sized is being used instead of the stock eartips as i find the stock tips lacking behind in terms of details.
Sound
I got the same WOW factor as Bonus IE when I first put on BIE Pro. I can immediately tell the differences between Bonus IE and BIE Pro. BIE Pro is way more refined across the spectrum. Bass quantity is a little toned down compared to Bonus IE but the quality is still there, refined and exhibited better control over Bonus IE. The tonality of the BIE Pro feels very natural and easy to listen to.
Bass
Bonus IE is commonly referred to as the bass cannon among the community due to its ability to reproduce clean and deep low bass. What about BIE Pro then? The bass on BIE Pro is a little toned down to my ears. It doesn’t go as low and gives the same rumble as Bonus IE, but what it does is it gives a cleaner bass reproduction, tighter and exhibits more control. A little slower on the decay but this allows BIE Pro to add richness into the music. The thumps in Dance Monkey by Tones and I does not feel bloated and overpower the mids and highs. Tracks like Metallica’s Master of Puppets exhibited controlled bass slams and also Slipknot’s Duality, the driver is fast enough to keep up with the pace and everything sounded very controlled and not muddy at all
Mids
In terms of the vocal, the vocal rendition sounds a little forward. I don’t have any problem with that and it all boils down to personal preference. Male’s vocal is not as rich and textured as female’s. No shouty upper mids as far as i can tell, the mids are just smooth and detailed, but you can still tell that this is a v-shaped signature.
Treble
If there is one thing that I wish for is for BIE Pro’s treble to be a little more energetic. Don’t get me wrong, the treble implementation is not bad, it’s just my preference. The overall treble presentation is smooth and there isn’t a slight hint of sibilant at all. Comfortable to listen for long hours without fatiguing your ears.
Soundstage/Imaging
I will describe the soundstage as average in terms of height and width. The soundstage rendered by BIE Pro to ears sounded good enough to give the perception of space when listening to live recordings and also tracks where there are a lot of transitions between left and right channel. It doesn’t sound/feel boxed in.
Imaging is not class leading but that is to be expected at this price point and should not be nitpicked. In busy tracks like Mrs Green Apple’s Inferno, instruments can be pinpointed accurately without having the sense of being overpowered by each other.
Source Synergy
BIE Pro with OHD 4.4 - Clean and slight bright presentation
- Average Soundstage presentation
Cayin N3 Pro 4.4 Balanced
- Better soundstage - Everything sounds more “Open”, very evident in Field Negus by Sons of Kemet - I like how BIE Pro sounds when paired with this DAP
E1DA 9038s
- Dry sounding
- Sounded very lean and lacked dynamic despite being powerful
- Not my preferred pairing/Sound signature
Final Thoughts
First of all, you guys have to know that BIE Pro is not meant for critical listening, rather it’s aim is to provide people with pleasant and enjoyable musical sounding earphones and it delivered. While it may not please certain audiences such as those who prefer more top end air and clarity, it will certainly engross you in the music with its energetic energy and it’s fun factor. However, if you like to tinker with it’s signature, tip rolling and cable rolling does help. BIE Pro is sensitive with tip change. I have tried a few and every change I did certainly altered it’s signature until i’ve decided to settle with Audiosense’s S400 eartips.
To my ears, BIE Pro is an all rounder, i have tried Slipknot, Metallica, Sons of Kemet,Billie Eilish, Miles Davis, David Bowie, Sergio Endrigo, Rita Pavone and many more, they all sounded very good in BIE Pro.
If you already have the Bonus IE and are hesitating whether you should grab this or not, let me assure you that this is definitely an upgrade over the Bonus IE with a more refined sound and also better cable that’s detachable and can be used on other MMCX IEM. For the price that it is asking for, especially with the current stay home promo price, I think it is definitely a good buy.
*I purchased BIE Pro at full price and I have no association with VE nor do I gain any monetary benefit from them. However i’m thankful for Lee for throwing in extra “toys” for me to explore and play with. Biggie and Small and also a 4.4 OHD and Bal to SE adapter. I will share my impression about them soon, they are niche, targeted at certain audience, but thankfully, i like that kind of signature.
If you are interested in getting the BIE Pro, head to VE’s official site below: Official Site Veclan Aliexpress VE's Shopee Store Malaysia
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