TWS true wireless earphones - under $50
FOUR STARS - A robust charging case and shiny earpieces with 'transparent drivers' - The Blitzwolf BW-FYE8 or Syllable S119 is more about the looks than it's about the sound.
Specs of the Blitzwolf BW-FYE8/ Syllable S119:
Bluetooth 5.0 with Qualcomm chipset and AptX codec
IPX5 water proof (sweat and rain resistant)
4,5 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 3 times
Comes with 3 sizes of ear tips and micro-USB cable
$35 on AliExpress - more links below - check current price!
Below this Blitzwolf BW-FYE8/ Syllable S119 review you will find comparisons vs the Syllable S101, Bomaker Sifi, SoundPEATS Truebuds and Whizzer C3.
Design, comfort and battery life
The Syllable S119 or Blitzwolf BW-FYE8 has a unique charging case. It's a round container, with a two-tone design in matte grey and shiny black- the case looks and feels very robust. The hinge also feels sturdy enough, even though you can close the lid by just moving the case a bit in your hand.
The case recharges via micro-USB instead of USB-C, so fast charging isn't available. The case does seem to hold its battery a high amount of time, however. A full case can recharge the earpieces three times and gives them nearly 5 hours playtime per charge.
The earpieces itself continue earlier Blitzwolf and Syllable products like the Syllable S101, which also had a transparent part with 'driver-inlays' near the nozzle. This fun design aspect is the part that goes in your ears, however. The outside world will only see a shiny black, longer than average stem. Because the in-ear part is compact, the FYE8/ S119 is comfortable to wear for a long time. It also stays in your ears well.
Two small downsides, however. The charging LED-lights on the case are quite bright - not ideal for the bedroom - and the case offers too little space for large ear tips. Expect a lot of fiddling if you need a bigger rubber tip than the delivered medium size.
Connectivity and controls
The Blitzwolf BW-FYE8 or Syllable S119 has touch controls, which you activate by pressing on the higher end of the stem.
With one tap, you play or pause the music. Tap twice on the right bud to advance a song, twice on the left unit to return a track. You can also change the volume - increase it by holding the right earpiece, and decrease it by holding the left. With three taps on the right bud, you activate the voice assistant on your smartphone.
While the control scheme is a blast, the sensitivity could be better. You'll pause the music often instead of skipping a track more than once, and sometimes, the right earpiece barely responds at all.
Connectivity on the BW-FYE8 and S119 is flawless. The Bluetooth 5.0 connection holds firm up to ten meters, even with thin walls between you and your device. Unfortunately, it isn't possible to quickly swap between one and two earpieces.
Calling and watching movies
The microphones are only placed halfway down the stem, but the Syllable S119/ Blitzwolf FYE8 genuinely impresses with its call quality. Your voice sounds like it's on the telephone rather than sounding very natural, but it does come through loud and clear.
Outside, wind noise is audible, but surrounding noises are reduced effectively. That includes traffic at a mild distance and accelerating vehicles nearby. It's effortless to take a long phone call with these.
It's also pleasant to watch videos with the S119 or FYE8. Audio synchronizes well with video on both Android and iPhone, on video services like Netflix and Amazon, and also YouTube. There is a delay in sound when playing games, like on almost all wireless earphones.
Also read: The best true wireless earphones under $50
Sound quality of BW-FYE8/ S119: Thin
'Clear strong bass', that's what Syllable says the S119 has going for it. Time to put it (and thus the Blitzwolf BW-FYE8) to the test.
The first thing to notice is that the S119/ BYE8 requires some fiddling with the fit. To get the most out of the sound, it's essential to push the earpieces a bit deeper into your ears. If you don't, this pair of earphones sound rather flat.
But even with the right fit, it becomes clear that the S119 or BW-FYE8 isn't the bass lovers' dream that is advertised. The bass delivers a nice thump supporting modern music genres such as pop and dance, but while boosted, it's too sloppy and powerless to describe it as strong bass. Electronic bass slams could either use a bit more tightness or a more aggressive rumble. Drums do come with a nice kick, however.
In the mids and the higher frequencies, the Blitzwolf/ Syllable is best described as light - or even thin. The lower-mids are supportive; they give the music some warmth, but don't expect much emphasis or details in piano strokes or darker male vocals. Voices don't always have a lot of body either. Higher-pitched (mostly female) vocals can sound thin, some male singers nasal.
There is some elevation going on in the upper-mids, and that's both the strength and the weakness of the S119/ FYE8. Lighter string instruments, such as violins, sound relatively detailed and pronounced, but these highs give music a rough edge. More often than you'd like, and even with the right fit, brighter songs can just sound thin and too piercing.
Selected comparisons
Syllable S119 vs Syllable S101
The older Syllable S101 has the same part matte-part shiny finish of the case, and also shows transparent 'driver designs' in the earpieces. While it has a worse fit and sticks out of your ears a little more, it has a richer and fuller sound than the S119, with a stronger sub-bass rumble and tighter bass kick. The S101 has more emphasis on lower-mids and sounds much more energetic; the S119 is brighter. Call quality is a lot better on the S119.
Blitzwolf BW-FYE8 vs Bomaker Sifi
The $40 Bomaker Sifi should always be on your list when you're shopping in this price segment, and yes - except for call quality, it outperforms the FYE8/ S119. The Sifi has a tighter bass, gives more presence and detail in the lower-mids, and offers a more natural presentation for both vocals and instruments. It delivers more space in the sound and lets you place instruments around you - something the Blitzwolf/ Syllable can't quite grasp.
Syllable S119 vs Whizzer C3
Syllable advertises the S119 for having 'clear strong bass!' If that's what you're looking for, you're better of with the newly released Whizzer C3. It has a more substantial bass thump and rumble than the Syllable, and also delivers more space and clarity in the mids and higher tones. The S119/ BW-BYE8 has more emphasis on the lower-mids, resulting in a warmer, smoother sound - but the Whizzer is more uplifting.
Blitzwolf BW-FYE8 vs SoundPEATS Truebuds
Are you also open to wireless earphones that don't go all the way into your ears? The $45 SoundPEATS Truebuds is a solid alternative. Because of its half in-ear design, it feels even more comfortable than the FYE8/ S119. The Truebuds offers more presence in the mids and highs and has a more spacious sound. The Blitzwolf and Syllable sound warmer, with more emphasis on the lower frequencies, yet the bass on the SoundPEATS is tighter.
Verdict
The Syllable S119 or Blitzwolf BW-FYE8 delivers great call quality and a unique, sturdy charging case - but if sound quality is your primary concern, it's better to look elsewhere.
Four stars - very good
Buy Syllable S119/ check current price:
I bought the Blitzwolf BW-FYE8/ Syllable S119 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
Also read:
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