TWS true wireless earphones - under $25
FOUR STARS - With sport-wings, uplifting sound, and excellent call quality, the QCY T9S is a very good TWS for running, working out, and everyday use - if a bit (too) big.
Specs of the QCY T9S:
Bluetooth 5.0 with AAC codec
4,5 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 4 times
Comes with 3 sets of ear tips and micro-USB cable
$25 on GearBest, or look it up on AliExpress
I've added a general link to AliExpress instead of a direct product link, as stocks and prices change rapidly between sellers. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Below this QCY T9S review, you will find comparisons of the QCY T9 vs QCY T6, QCY T4, Edifier X3 and Mpow M30.
Design, comfort and battery life
The QCY T9S is one of QCY's new mid-2020 models, along with the regular QCY T4 and the QCY T6. The latter is designed specifically for (extreme) sports with their big around-the-ear-wings. The QCY T9S is placed right in between those two models: it has sport-wings for inside your ears. As there aren't many sets available with these kind of wings under $25, this is a welcome addition to the market.
The QCY T9S comes with three sizes of sport rubbers to put around the earpieces; one without wings and two sizes with the wings placed precisely on top. Beware: the combination of wings and the earpieces make the T9S big.
Like the QCY T4, the T9S has rounder and overall bigger earpieces than previous QCY earbuds. The earpieces fill the ears so much that they may be too uncomfortable for medium-sized ears. It's inconvenient to wear these for longer amount of times - or at least, it takes getting used to.
You could of course also state that the QCY T9S is a good choice for people with bigger ears. Even when choosing the rubbers without sport wings, they're pretty big.
Like other QCY earphones, the case is made from cheap black plastic and recharges via micro-USB. The case is larger than the QCY T4's, but still very pocketable. On the front of the case, you will find a LED-light that shows the battery status - something the T4 lacks.
Battery life is entirely in line with QCY's other products: 4,5 hours playtime on a single charge. That is 1,5 hours behind the Edifier X3 and the sporty QCY T6, but still a good score. The case can recharge the earpieces three times before needing power itself.
Connectivity and controls
The QCY T9S has actual buttons instead of touch panels. Happily, you don't push the earpieces too deep by pressing them.
The control scheme is simple: click once to play/ pause the music, press the right button twice to advance a song and double-press the left earpiece to return a track. Holding down the button activates the voice assistant on your phone.
You can change the controls via the QCY app for iPhone and Android, but it won't unlock extra control options. For instance - you can change the track-changing into volume controls, but you won't be able to add extra controls.
Connectivity on the QCY T9S is robust and stronger than on the T4. Here too, there are some hiccups in the connection and sound unfortunately - although this isn't a dealbreaker.
Calling and watching movies with QCY T4
The QCY T9S misses a low-latency gaming mode seen on some other new QCY models. There is a noticeable delay in sound effects when playing games.
However, it offers good audio-video synchronization when watching videos on Android and iPhone, including in the YouTube-app. Sometimes, however, you may need to pause and then resume playing to get ultimate lipsync.
The call quality of the QCY T9S is great, especially for outside use. It's possible to take a call indoors and outside, as surrounding noises such as traffic and accelerating vehicles are reduced nicely. Other voices do come through loud, however - making calls in office or school less convenient. Happily, your voice sounds telephone-like - it's loud and clear.
—> Also read: The best TWS under $25
QCY T9S app review: Change the controls
Like the QCY T6 and QCY T4, the QCY T9S also supports the QCY app for Android and iPhone. This is copied from the QCY T4 review, as everything applies to the T9S as well:
With the official QCY app for iPhone and Android, you can give the QCY T9S some extra options once you've registered an account. In order to use the app, you have to put the earpieces back in the charging case and take them out again until you no longer see the message on the screenshot right.
The app unlocks the opportunities to update the firmware (none were available while writing this review), and change the controls as described in the connection/ controls part.
QCY's application on Android also lets you find the earphones nearby with a Bluetooth-powered find function. On both iPhone and iPad, the app also and has an equalizer with six presets.
Forget the addition of the app equalizer immediately. It is a laugh, with the slightest manual change destroying the balance in the sound of the earphone, and the Bass, Pop, and other preset frequencies also ruining the frequencies and left-right separation in the sound.
It's good to be able to change controls, but it would have been better without an app and more extended controls.
Sound quality of QCY T9S: bass and highs
From the three new QCY models of mid-2020, the QCY T9S has the best sound, delivering both crisp highs and an engaging bass.
Whereas the T6 bass only shows itself with a specific fit and the T4 bass seems to be absent most of the time, the QCY T9S is blessed with constant pumping bass, delivering a steady mid-bass slam. It's enough to make music sound uplifting and let the T9S support you during your workout or sporting session. It doesn't go as deep and doesn't have the same subtle sub-bass tickle as the QCY T5.
Upper-mids and highs on the QCY T9S enjoy tremendous emphasis. Like the T4, the T9S is a treble-focused set with high-pitched (female) vocals that sound clear and crisp. It can be a tad too much, though. Especially in modern dance and trance songs with girl vocals on autotune, the sound can be too bright. Also, when lots of instruments like guitars, violins, cymbals, and vocals come into play, it can feel like the T9S covers music with a blanket of white noise.
Lower-mids like darker electronic tones, pianos, and cellos, do enjoy enough body on the T9S, and soundstage is also good. The T9S presents music with a nice airiness, and convincing separation between sounds and instruments.
With its strong 'V-shape' - elevated bass and upper-mids/ highs - the QCY T9S is a great energizer for sporting and working out, but it also offers a pleasurable every day listen.
Selected comparisons
QCY T9S vs QCY T4
Size comparison: QCY QS1 vs QCY T4 vs QCY T9S with medium-size sport wings
Both the QCY T9S and T4 are part of QCY's mid-2020 line-up, and both are available for 20-25 dollars. They both have the same battery life, great call quality, around the same size charging case, and tactile buttons. The T4 has a (disappointing) low-latency gaming mode to throw in as an extra; the T9S gives you sport wings. Both don't have the most comfortable fit. Soundwise, they both sound bright with elevated and far-extended upper-mids and highs. The T9S does deliver a stronger, warmer bass section and better connection strength. It's a better choice.
QCY T9S vs QCY T6
If you doubt between the tinier sport-wings of the QCY T9S and the over-the-ear-wings of the T6, figure this: the QCY T6 is more comfortable to wear (during sporting) and has better battery life, with 6 hours instead of 4,5. Those things can count for sporting purposes. For daily use, the T9S is more convincing. It's easier to hear and feel the bass in the music, making music more uplifting. Call quality is better, and the actual buttons respond more accurately than T6's touch panels.
QCY T9S vs Mpow M30
For about $15 more, the Mpow M30 is another low-budget wireless earphone with sport-wings to keep them in place during workouts. The wings of the Mpow are more flexible, and along with the tinier earpieces, the Mpow M30 is more comfortable. Battery life is around half an hour stronger. The M30 also has a V-shape signature, but has a less bright sound signature than the T9S, with more body in the lower-mids and more rounded highs.
Mpow M30 review - buy on Amazon
QCy T9S vs Edifier X3
If you're looking for the most complete, versatile ultra-cheap pair of earphones, you can't miss the Edifier X3. It has a more pocketable charging case than the T9S, and its earpieces are also smaller and more comfortable. Taking a call is perfectly possible on both, but the Edifier offers up to 1,5 extra hours battery life. It also has a richer sound, with stronger and more detailed bass and pleasant warmer undertone, while maintaining detail in the higher tones. Unless you need sport wings, the X3 is an even better choice.
Verdict
With its sport-wings, uplifting sound, and good call quality, the QCY T9S is a good pair of wireless earbuds if you have bigger ears, suitable for both sporting and everyday use.
Four stars - very good
Buy QCY T9S/ check current price:
Check the price of the QCY T9S on AliExpress
I bought the QCY T9S myself for testing and review purposes. I test and review all audio products equally honest - read about it here.
Consider buying this earphone? I'd really appreciate it if you use the links in this article. It won't cost you extra, yet it will financially support me a bit in my ongoing quest for great affordable audio. <3 If you like, you can also donate to me.
Also read:
