Short answer: the BQEYZ NI. It ranks #614 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $49.99; the TRN Shell ranks #666, rated 3.7/5, and costs $50.99, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The case for the BQEYZ NI: A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 71 against the Harman target. The tradeoff: Treble about 3 dB below target from 3 to 10 kHz, which can sound dull or veiled next to brighter headphones.
Why pick the TRN Shell: A budget hybrid with three dynamic drivers and a planar, plus three swappable tuning nozzles. Watch for: A 2.15 dB spread from the target still leaves some peaks and dips.
Buy the BQEYZ NI. It is rated higher for sound quality than the TRN Shell and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 71 against the Harman target.
Amazon $49.99 eBay
A budget hybrid with three dynamic drivers and a planar, plus three swappable tuning nozzles.
Amazon $50.99 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| BQEYZ NI | TRN Shell | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.99 | $50.99 |
| Ranked | #614 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #666 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 71 (median of 7 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 70 (median of 6 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.38 dB standard deviation | 2.15 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.14 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.61 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.8 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Hybrid |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic | 3 x dynamic + 1 x 6mm planar |
Frequency Response Compared
Both headphones’ measurements overlaid on the Harman target. Above the target sounds louder in that range, below it quieter. Each curve is the median of several independent measurements, shifted so its 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB, so only the tuning is compared.
Measurement data: the BQEYZ NI from aftersound, bassaudio, digaoreviews, eplv, jaytiss, soundcheck39 and tonedeafmonk; the TRN Shell from atechreviews, audioamigo, digaoreviews, eplv, soundcheck39 and tonedeafmonk, all via squig.link.
Related Headphone Comparisons
How BQEYZ NI compares with other leading options: