Review: nuforce BE6i – iPhone 7 ready

Sound

In previous analyses, I got only as far as saying that the BE6i sounded decent. Let’s take that a little further.

Indeed, the BE6i sounds decent. It spits a contrasty, sharp-edged, energetic sound that matches industrial EDM and trance signals almost to a t. It’s got a tight non-consumer bass. Another saving grace is that its amp barely hisses; it could also be that its drivers aren’t that sensitive. As a result, the BE6i is set up to sound as good as it possibly can. The only proviso I can think of is this: there is no way for me to test the output impedance of its amp nor to test how well it spits current into various frequency loads.

To be sure, Bluetooth earphones and headphones are different animals. Their performance is spelled out almost exclusively by their internal signal circuitry. A bad internal amp or DAC would spell doom to an otherwise good earphone design.

I don’t think that either the BE6i DAC or amp are bad. The only area where the BE6i appears to trip up is when upper mids get hot and/or complex in fast trance and EDM. But that doesn’t appear to be an amplification artefact. Generally, the BE6i’s upper mids are super clear, forward, and extended. That said, upper percussions, while bright, muffle some cymbal crashes, and at times, splash. Upper mids generally are clear, open, and separate instruments well. The air between percussion and vocals is packed with a good deal of z-axis depth that projects you into an otherwise wide, wall-of-sound stage. Upper mids get hot, though not nearly as often as certain high frequencies. Generally, they capture most of the attention. Minor sibilance can be heard in some female vocals.

The sweet spot appears to be bass and the transition zone to mids, especially when contrasted with the BE6i’s bright upper midrange. Bass is thick and slightly elevated. It kicks in on a grippy heals, a detailed stage, and hard separation from left to right. There’s not a lot of really low-frequency sound pressure though; Markus Schulz’s Mainstage is next to devoid of yawningly low bass notes. Bass really kicks in above 70Hz, at which point it is punchy and enjoys fast decay time good enough for the fastest trance and progressive.

The BE6i may be too bright for some people. Even a recovering ER4s addict like myself at times finds its high end a bit splashy. The thing is: prior to that splash, its space, z-axis depth, and overall balance are addictive. Lower mids, being slightly depressed, provide a brilliant teeter totter fulcrum between bright highs and punchy lows. They evince speed and pow! that is nigh on perfect for all fast music styles.

Calls and stuff

I spoke loving words to my wife this morning. She was outside, waiting for the milk man (why, I have no idea). I was inside tending to the baby and this review. I said “I love you”, which she said came through loud and clear. That was the second time. The first time, the BE6i’s cable was draped around my shoulders. She said I sounded muffled. I heaved into the next “I love you”. The baby cried. Then I dangled the cable between my breasts, which brought the mic closest my mouth. Loud and clear.

What I want from Nuforce

Bluetooth HEM2. The nuforce HEM2 is hands-down the most surprising mid-fi earphone I’ve heard all year. Had it arrived last year, I’d have pinned a prize to in my wrap up. I’m reasonably sure I’ll be doing that this year. Its twisted cable is crap, though, which makes it a prime candidate for a good makeover. Assuming Nuforce have an integrated or discrete wireless amp capable of properly driving it, the HEM2 needs to go bluetooth. The BE6i shows that Nuforce have the formula down. Let’s get to mixing something even more special.

End words

The BE6i is my wireless wakeup call. It sounds good, works nearly flawlessly, comes with a great accessory set. It proves that wireless earphones can be painless and good sounding. Its cable is springy, tough, and ready for nasty body oil and sweat. If you fell for the iPhone 7 and are looking to break up your Apple-only suite of accessories, the grey BE6i should look great next to the space grey model. The other one should look brilliant with just about anything.

Let’s push the market forward.