NiceHCK EP10 Review

Price: 10$

Where to buy: [link]

Specifications:

• Impedance: 32 Ohm

• Frequency response: 20-40k Hz

• Sensitivity: 95 ± 3 DB/mW

 Thanks to Jim from NiceHCK for providing this review sample.

Unboxing and first impressions

This could be your usual box. If you are familiar with NiceHCK products or Yinyoo ones, you’ll know this feeling. But this is a crazy cheap product, and I wouldn’t expect something like this. For 10$, you have a really nice hard carrying case and a complete set of accessories: 4 measures of silicon eartips, 2 pairs of double flange ones (with just a different color) and an amazingly built set of ceramic earphones with a non-detachable cable, which is however braided and very high-quality. The buds come protected in some plastic bags. I can say this is the best packaging you can find for the price.

The buds are very similar to the shape of an earbud, but they actually have nozzles to put ear tips on. This hybrid choice is good because the design remains unobtrusive, while the fit is a bit more secure than a classic earbud. The nozzle, however, is not that long, so you could need some memory foam tips to improve the stability, or use some longer tips – the ones which come in the box actually already are longer than average. I like the Tin HiFi P1 small foams here. The design and the build quality look and feel really premium, thanks to the weight, too, which is heftier than average. The cable comes with a microphone – but you can get a version without it. There’s one button which can be used for multiple commands (play/pause, answer, skip tracks). The cable itself is really good and has a chin slider which is not so useful because of the microphone which stops it from reaching your chin. All the inserts are made of metal.

Sound

My sources: FiiO M7 (standalone; to XDUOO XP-2/iFi xDSD via Bluetooth; to XP-2 via line-out; to xDSD via USB), Dodocool DA106 (mainly to XDUOO XP-2 via line-out); Mi MIX 2 to XP-2 and xDSD (via Bluetooth and USB), to Zorloo ZuperDAC-S, to Audirect Whistle; MacBook Pro 2012 to Focusrite 2i2.

My music: Jon Hopkins, “Singularity”; Billie Eilish, “When do we fall asleep, where do we go?”; Coldplay, “Ghost stories”; Bon Iver (Discography); Jack Garratt, “Phase”; Jamie Cullum, “Taller”; Sia, “Colour the small one”; The Bloody Beetroots & Jet, “The great electronic swindle”; Jacob Collier, “In my room” and “Djesse (Vol.1)”; John Coltrane, “Giant steps”; Lauv, “I met you when I was 18”, Oh Wonder (Discography), Radiohead (Discography), ecc..

My files: MP3, M4A, FLAC, ALAC, few DSDs (Pink Floyd).

Let’s talk about the microphone, which is impressive: clear and loud, a bit metallic and thin but better than every KZ counterpart I’ve encountered. If the mic sounds thin, this isn’t the case of the earphones themselves. Instead, they offer a good V shaped signature, which however isn’t so notched in the midrange and suffer of undertone vocals just in some cases. The EP10 have a general sound that I’d describe as punchy: the bass really does justice to dynamic drivers, with a good extension, a quick response and a noticeable body, which luckily never falls on the midrange. The tuning on these earphones is really well-made. I like the mid bass rumble as well as the sub bass extension, which is not crazy but it’s clean.

The mids are a bit recessed, which however doesn’t bother me that much, because most of the times voices are airy and not congested, instruments are well separated and percussions are “kicky” but moderate. Sometimes the piano feels less “on par” on some frequencies and certain instruments feel a bit thin, but I generally like the tuning, which is balanced. Sometimes the sound feels a bit artificial on the mid and treble area; I can assume this is due the ceramic body which can be less ideal than a heavy metal for the resonance (I remember the Xiaomi Half Ear with ceramic drivers, which were thin and artificial sounding, so maybe this could be related). Mids are not the focal point of this set, yet they are enjoyable even if recessed. Vocals are good, but not great: they don’t shine over the instruments, they just are on par when they are well mixed and mastered. I don’t find them the most linear, due to the non-flat tuning. I hear a pick on the upper midrange on my own voice when I hear some of my recordings which I’m not sure should be there. I’m not a technician, so I don’t know – and I don’t believe it’s important for the ones interested in this price range’s products – which frequencies are interested. So, vocals are just nice, a bit muddy, not very airy.

Treble is a bit emphasized, especially on the lower range. Unfortunately, I can hear some sibilance, but this is not – in this case – the sign of a bright signature. There’s no harshness here and the only against here is the poor control on some treble vocals which are a bit sharp.

The picks on the high range, however, are positive for the perceived stage, which is wider than average; not very deep, though. Imaging is average, too: not too sectorized but precise enough.

Comparisons

While I believe these are the exact same IEM as the BLON BL-01, I can’t verify because I don’t own this one. However, I find it difficult to compare something to the EP10, because of the extremely low price. I just have one in mind, which I don’t own anymore, though, which is the Xiaomi Dual Dynamic Driver. That sounds worse than the EP10, even though it has a dual driver configuration, because it handles much quieter volumes, then it crackles and sounds harsh. The punch is also much better on the EP10, as well as the tuning. However, I appreciate the mids of the Xiaomi more, because they are more U-shaped than V, and their notch is softer, so vocals are less buried.

Conclusions

I have to say that if I didn’t know the price of these earphones, I would have paid at least 3 times more; not only for the build quality and the materials, but also for the quality of the mic and for the amazing sound they can offer. This is absolutely the set I would recommend the most, having a low budget while needing the best offer.

Pros

• Price

• Build quality and materials

• Microphone quality

• Cable

• Bass

Cons

• Sibilance

• Sound is a bit muffled

• Vocals suffer the V shaped signature

YinYoo Topaz Review

Price: 100€

Where to buy them: [link]

Specifications:

• Frequency response: 20-40k Hz

• Impedance: 12 Ohm

• Sensitivity: 106±3dB

• Connectors: 2pin 0.78mm

• Driver configuration: 1DD+4BA

Many thanks to AK Audio for providing this review sample and an upgrade cable. You can always get a little discount by buying earphones by them, if you write “techinblack” as a message for the seller before paying anything. This is not an affiliation: techinblack doesn’t get anything if you do like that, but you can pay a little less. It’s all for the music. Peace.

Unboxing and first impressions

Similarly to other YinYoo earphones, the Topaz come in a shiny blue cardboard box, which contains a classic hard case, which in turn contains the buds, the cable, a clip and the eartips (S-M-L wide bore and S-M-L small bore: 6 pairs in total). AK Audio sent me an upgrade cable, which you can buy together with the Topaz. As always, there’s a complete set of accessories; the only thing I would have added is – at least – a pair of foam ear tips: this is a 100$+ contender and the others usually have a pair of them (BGVP/NiceHCK/BRAINWAVZ…). The stock cable is the same cable as the YinYoo D2B4 (here is not MMCX but 2pin), surely a tool but honestly bad looking and too rubberish. The upgrade cable you can choose is very similar to the BGVP DMG silver cable, a very good one overall, especially for the price. The buds themselves are amazing: great looking, with a nice choice of materials. They are made of metal and they may be an answer to IKKO’s OH1/OH10 in terms of design, even though the Topaz are more regular in their shape. You can see the vents for the dynamic driver precisely cut on the shell. I don’t know why YinYoo tends to produce different models with different connectors, but as long as there are compatible upgrade cables, it doesn’t bother me at all. In the end, I’ve paired them with a TRIPOWIN C8 cable, which is fantastic. For the eartips, I enjoy the foams which come with the AudioSense T800, they improve the fit and the isolation, which are not the stronger points of the Topaz.

Sound

My sources: FiiO M7, Mi MIX 2 with DAC Zorloo ZuperDAC-S and MacBook Pro 2012 with USB audio interface Focusrite 2i2 first gen, iFi xDSD and XDUOO XP-2

My files: DSD, FLAC, ALAC, MP3, M4A

My music: “Colour the Small One” by Sia, “Djesse Vol.1” by Jacob Collier, “Where are You?” by Frank Sinatra, “Ghost Stories” by Coldplay, “O” by Damien Rice, and many other tracks by Queen, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Radiohead, Billie Eilish, The Bloody Beetroots, …

I didn’t have the highest expectations for these Topaz, because the last YinYoo I’ve tried (D2B4) really left me a sour taste. Instead, I actually found one of the better sounding earphones of my entire collection. I didn’t expect a sound that balanced and close to neutral for an earphone that’s still mass-oriented. If you’re familiar with the Tin HiFi T2, you’ll understand this sound. It’s extremely clear and transparent, airy and spacious. The Topaz are a little more bassy than the T2, and they are superior detail-wise. That being said, the bass is extremely controlled, the mid-bass is not emphasized at all, and you can hear a good sub-bass rumble. The speed of it is pretty standard, for a dynamic driver you may expect a little more body, but again: this is a close-to-neutral IEM, and it can be recommended for music production thanks to its flatness. Mids are great: comfortable, a little notched, but pleasantly airy for vocals, and well layered for instruments. I like how everything sounds very balanced, without any emphasis on certain frequencies or instruments. Earphones like the AudioSense T800 – which I borrowed the foam tips to – are much more vocal-oriented, even though the instruments don’t feel undertone. This is a really different tuning, and in my opinion for a hybrid it’s a very well-done one. Treble is clear and airy. No noticeable sibilance there, no harshness, but a touch of brightness which is good as long as you need to hear the details and perceive the stage. Vocals are pleasant and feel natural even on the high range. The soundstage is wider than average, while just average in its depth. Imaging is very good: even though there’s not a crazy wideness, the precision of the position of the parts is impressive. Speaking of isolation, the shape is not particularly ergonomic like it may seem, so it’s not that easy to get a good seal with the stock tips. Yet, if you use a good pair of foams, that helps a lot on improving the fit and the seal and you get less leak on the bass side.

Comparisons

YinYoo D2B4: they are much more bassy and V-shaped. The sound of D2B4 is congested, too much for my taste, it resembles a bad version of the BGVP DM6 tuning. Luckily, the Topaz are a giant step up from the D2B4 in terms of tuning, clarity, stage perception. These two share the same difficulties in ergonomics, for my particular ears, but it’s a side issue because you can improve that with some foams. I wouldn’t recommend the D2B4 to many, because I feel like there are better choices on the same price range, with the same (good) build quality, like the NiceHCK M6 or TinAudio T3. Instead, I would recommend the Topaz to the ones who need a good tool for production or need to listen to music with a high fidelity. Absolutely not for bassheads.

Tin HiFi T3: their tuning is different from the T2’s one, which is closer to the Topaz’s one. But the T3 are more comparable due to their improved detail and bass. I personally don’t think there’s one absolutely better than the other, but they are different products. T3 are more sibilant, or let’s say less gentle in the high range. And they are more bassy. If you like a balanced, yet fun listening, they would be a better choice over the Topaz, which are much more on a neutral side. My personal choice, because of my needs, would be the Topaz (but make sure you get a nicer cable; the stock one does these IEMs no credit).

BGVP DMG/NiceHCK M6: these two siblings are just fun. Very bassy, heavily U-shaped, I love them but they are not meant to be used as tools for production. They are good live stage monitors, though. But if you need something for mixing, the Topaz are more useful. The fit is worse on the Yinyoo, but this could be a personal factor. Build-wise, we are at the same level. I also think the upgrade cable which you can order with the Topaz is the same as the other two, just with different colors and details. Still, if I had to recommend something, if you need a flat sound, go for the Topaz; if you want a versatile IEM for various genres and situations, and especially a fun one, go for the M6: they are very cheap for their offering.

BGVP DM6: strange comparison? 200$ is twice the price of the Topaz. But I’m here to say I’d get two Topaz instead of a single DM6. Or even a single Topaz because their value for money is way higher than the DM6’s one. DM6 are too congested and their stage is too close. Clarity and tuning of the Topaz win over the superb detail of the DM6’s Balanced Armatures. And this is a personal opinion, obviously. I wouldn’t choose the D2B4 over the DM6 as other reviewers said, but I’d go for the Topaz because of their balance. Build quality, tuning, accessories, design: the Topaz are phenomenal monitors for their price.

Simgot EM1: maybe my favourite earphones. Single dynamic driver, an incredibly versatile IEM with a fun yet balanced tuning. They are much more musical than the Topaz, but less precise. And they are a little bit sibilant. Don’t ask me to choose between the two, please. They are so different, but I love them both. No, I choose the EM1.

Conclusions

I don’t have much to say: these are convincing In Ear Monitors. Actually one of my favourite ever. They look amazing, they are crazy well built, their sound is the one I usually search for, and if you find the right eartips, you’ll also find them comfortable and sealed. The price tag of 100$, considered the actual market, is pretty fair. With a better stock cable and some foam tips in the box, I would have paid much more, considering how solid the Topaz are. With the Simgot EM1, they actually are the overall most convincing earphones I’ve tried on a budget. If I had to pick a fun one and a flat one under 100$, these two would be my choices.

Pros

• Accessories

• Tuning

• Clarity

• Natural timbre

• Flat sound signature 

Cons

• Stock cable

• No foam tips

• Bass may be lacking for some

YinYoo D2B4 Review

Price: 80€ now (it was about 130€)

Where to buy: [link]

Specifications:

• Driver configuration: 2 dynamic drivers (I guess it’s a double diaphragm single dynamic) and 4 balanced armatures

• Impedance: 19 Ohm @1 kHz

• Sensitivity: 102 dB/1 mW

• Frequency range: 20 – 40k Hz

Thanks to AK Audio for this review unit.

Unboxing and first impressions

Classic YinYoo box here: a cardboard with a carrying case and various accessories inside (buds, cable, 6 pairs of silicon eartips: 3 wide bore, 3 small bore). No foam tips, no cleaning tools. A close experience to the V2 model by the same brand. Differently from the V2, the cable here is worse (strange, because the price is higher) and the standard is MMCX and not 2pin. I know for sure that now, if you buy the D2B4, they ship them with a better cable, which is closer to the BGVP DMG or NiceHCK M6 cable. I don’t mention those two models randomly: they share the same driver configuration and a similar build quality with these YinYoo. I don’t like my cable (remember: I have the older version), so I switched to a NiceHCK cable which is identical to the M6 one (it’s actually the P3’s cable); I’ve also tried the upgrade 8 core copper plated by the same company, but I’d rather use it with my NiceHCK M6 (because – spoiler – I prefer them). What’s not so convincing about these earphones? Despite their amazing look and build quality, the isolation is not that good – while that is a main feature on the counterparts I’ve mentioned.

Sound

My sources: iFi xDSD via MacBook Pro 2012 or XIaomi Mi MIX 2 (wired and Bluetooth); FiiO M7; Focusrite 2i2 via MacBook Pro; Zorloo ZuperDAC-S via Mi MIX 2.

My files: DSD, FLAC, ALAC, MP3, M4A

My music: “Colour the Small One” by Sia, “Djesse Vol.1” by Jacob Collier, “Where are You?” by Frank Sinatra, “Ghost Stories” by Coldplay, “O” by Damien Rice, and many other tracks by Queen, Billie Eilish, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Radiohead, …

Given the same driver configuration as the BGVP DMG and the NiceHCK M6 (which are very similar one another), I thought the D2B4 were close to them too. It’s not really true. The sound signature is kind of comparable, with a full bass, nice mids and a decent treble. Other factors make them sound different: layering is a bit worse, soundstage is less wide – yet very deep – and detail is not the main focus here.

Bass: more than enough, for a balance lover. Sub-bass is decent, mid-bass is prominent. The problem is that it sounds a little bit muddy. The seller said the new cable can improve the sound, but I’m not really a believer of this (and, as I’ve said before, I’ve already replaced it). I’m not disappointed, I could even expect something like that. But I’ve heard the YinYoo V2 and their punchy yet controlled bass which I find amazing, so I may be right by expecting something more refined here. I really appreciate how this dark background matches with sharp recordings (like “A Fever Dream” by Everything Everything), though: the mid-bass invades the midrange, but many main parts are on the treble side, so you get as a result a comfortable, non-fatiguing experience.

Mids: they are recessed, I can’t deny they are under the pressure of that enhanced mid-bass. Male vocals feel undertone sometimes, but this is the only real disadvantage of this kind of tuning. I like the instrument separation and I hear a decent detail here. Female vocals (especially the higher ones) are airy and crisp. I would have expected a better layering, because sometimes I feel a lack of clarity whenever the mix is full of instruments. You can distinguish them (we are talking about decent specs), but they might be clearer in their reproduction.

Treble is good for my personal taste. I don’t like picks of any genre, so this relaxed high range is perfect for me. So, the overall frequency response that I hear is kind of L-shaped. Detail, vocals, instruments (especially drums) are really enjoyable on the high frequencies. I don’t have any sense of exaggerated effort, neither on the sub-bass or the top-high. If I had to correct something, I would take the mid-bass down a bit, because it’s very “covering”, too much sometimes.

The soundstage is average, the imaging is good. I hear no particular holographic atmosphere.

Comparisons

BGVP DMG / NiceHCK M6: I prefer these two over the D2B4. The shape is better for isolation and stability, the provided cable is better (but the new D2B4’s one is kind of identical). Speaking of sound, I hear a clearer bass on DMG/M6 and a better detail and layering. But I have to consider the price that’s different. D2B4 costed 130€ (like DMG) but they are now 80€ (a little bit less than M6). The best deal here is NiceHCK M6: they have the same sound as DMG (for me, they may be even better because they might have less sibilance, if I hear correctly), but better accessories and the most appealing price for performance. Despite the similarities between the new cable of the D2B4 and the other two cables, the factory which produces these YinYoo models isn’t the same as the BGVP/NiceHCK.

Tin HiFi T3: I’d rather them too. Better cable but worse accessories, same level of build quality. For me, the two drivers of the T3 are better tuned than the 6 drivers of the D2B4. There’s not so much to say here, T3 are difficult to beat even for twice their price. I think D2B4 are nice for their price, but they are not the best product I heard by YinYoo for sure (V2 are absolutely amazing, and Y1 too, for my taste). The starting price of D2B4 was too high; now that they are cheaper, they have more sense. But I wouldn’t choose them, honestly. I have to say the D2B4 are more comfortable to wear, the T3 (like every other Tin HiFi product) are a little bit too large for ears on the smaller size.

Conclusions

I feel like YinYoo is trying to produce a lot of different products, following the best trends of Chi-fi: V2 are a great counterpart to the Tin T2, while D2B4 aren’t that solid against the BGVP DMG. Now they are out with their Topaz (which I feel it’s like an IKKO OH1 contender), and we will see if they are worth it.

I try a lot of earphones. Sometimes valid products don’t really appeal to me like they could. In the end, this product is solid: really good accessories, capable sound, nice build quality and now even a good cable. I’m more into balance than fun, and the D2B4 are far from being balanced. I would recommend them to casual listeners, occasional bassheads, but if you need that sub-bass punch, I think you have to search more. These, to me, feel like the On Ears I’ve reviewed by 1MORE (here, in Italian). They don’t fail anywhere, but neither they shine. If you find a really good deal, you can get them and be satisfied, with a flavor of BGVP DMG and nice performances. Just be aware that the soundstage is limited and the instrument separation could be better due the enhanced mid-bass.

NiceHCK P3 Review

Price: 37$

Where to find them: [here]

Specifications:

• Frequency response: 20-40k Hz

• Impedance: 12 Ohm

• Sensitivity: 106 dB/mW

• Driver: Hybrid 2BA+1DD

This is the second IEM I try by NiceHCK, after the M6. I’ve really appreciated the first one, starting from the accessories. I’m glad they included nearly the same ones here, considering the price range that’s really different between the twos (more than 50$).

Unboxing and first impressions

I like this simple but functional unboxing experience: a white box with some information, which has inside a good hard carrying case; inside there are a lot of tips (three pairs of silicon, two pairs of silicon double flange, a pair of foams) and the earphones, already attached to the cable. The cable itself is the same of the M6, which is good in quality – I don’t really like the color, but it’s subjective. This, for me, should be the package of every earphone. Small, simple, rigid, complete.

The buds are good looking, with a translucent blue plastic build. The plastic quality is average, a little bit better than the KZ ES4; comfort, though, is way superior on P3, thanks to its shape and the better ear tips. The connector is MMCX. I’m impressed for the price – more than TRN IM1, which has way less accessories in a similar range.

Sound

My sources: FiiO M7, Mi MIX 2 with DAC Zorloo ZuperDAC-S and MacBook Pro 2012 with USB audio interface Focusrite 2i2 first gen.

My files: DSD, FLAC, ALAC, MP3, M4A

My music: “Colour the Small One” by Sia, “Djesse Vol.1” by Jacob Collier, “Where are You?” by Frank Sinatra, “Ghost Stories” by Coldplay, “O” by Damien Rice, and many other tracks by Queen, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Radiohead, … 

Sometimes it happens that you listen to a set and you can’t find nothing wrong. It’s difficult to judge something that doesn’t really fall on any area. You have to rationalize and carefully try to understand what part of your impressions is driven by your personal taste and what’s an objective way to explain the product capabilities. So, I will start saying this is a set that matches my taste, because the treble is pretty rolled off. You hear no sibilance at all, neither any kind of harshness with the P3. That’s the first thing I can say, that’s pretty positive to me, but it mightn’t for treble heads. If you search for a “Tin HiFi like” signature, that’s totally opposite. And it’s fine, because some people don’t like it. So, starting from “the bottom”, the bass is really good. It may be a little lacking of body in the sub-bass area, but the overall scene feels warm and there’s the right amount of punchiness. It’s pretty quick too: comparing the P3 to the KZ ES4, which also are pretty bassy, the P3 provide better layering and resolution. This isn’t a congested bass, nor a boomy bass, nor an over-emphasized bass: it’s enjoyable and it’s one of the better things of these earphones. Mids are honest, with the right space for vocals and a pretty good instrument separation. The signature feels pretty balanced until the upper midrange, which has kind of a notch and falls when it comes to treble. So, I don’t feel mids lacking presence, they just don’t shine. Treble, as I’ve said before, is very relaxed. These earphones are meant to be for the ones who can’t stand any brightness. This means, though, that you have to accept a detail that’s just average and a sound that wants to be fun and doesn’t even try to be analytical. It’s perfectly good. The “problem” is that this sound isn’t really “fun”: it’s pretty boring, even though for my taste it has nothing wrong. There’s a lot of people who just want to listen to music and don’t really need a particular sound signature: this set is honest, and it’s a really good start for upgrading from a casual earphone. Let’s talk about soundstage. There’s an average width that’s kind of holographic, which is good, summed to that bass, if you need something enough precise for gaming. That means that imaging is pretty precise too. So, it’s kind of difficult to explain: the stage is not that wide; however, its depth is discrete, so the immersion in the scene is pretty comfortable. This is a sound which doesn’t fatigue.

Comparisons

TRN IM1: I’m kind of confused about this set. At first, I thought it was good. Then its slight brightness became too fatiguing. Then I realized that wasn’t a great sound, honestly. It’s more detailed than the P3 one, it’s pretty analytic, but it’s not a solid sound at all. Some songs are pretty good on that, many others sound just too congested and sharp. Let’s say IM1 is not a gentle set. I prefer P3. You can find the IM1 here.

KZ ES4: this is a set which sounded honest before I compared it to other ones. It’s kind of similar to the P3, even though it has more presence in the treble and more sibilance. The bass is less precise, but its body is comparable to the P3 one. They also have the same tendency of virtualizing the scene, which is something that I think the average consumer could enjoy. Well, between the two I choose the P3: you have more accessories, a better fit, a better cable (in my opinion) and an overall sound that’s more convincing. You can find the ES4 here.

RevoNext QT2: a strange comparison, I admit. QT2 are a bit pricier, but I put them here because if you like their signature, you’re not going to like the P3 one. QT2 are balanced but become very bright and sibilant since the upper midrange. P3, instead, are very warm and more fun to listen to. QT2 are an analytical set from what I hear. You can find the QT2 here.

Conclusions

While it’s true that I can’t find any particular reason to recommend this set, neither I can’t find one to not recommend it. It’s comfortable to wear, it’s not fatiguing, and it suits honestly every genre. Not brilliantly, but neither bad, at all. I found the KZ ES4 to sound bad for my taste. Not the P3, which have some good pros. And they are really good for gaming. I can recommend them if you are not searching for any particular feature, even though I believe the price could be a little bit lower. And you get one of the better packages, in terms of accessories.

Pros

• Accessories

• Fit

• Not fatiguing

• Relaxed sound signature

Cons

• Average materials and build quality

• They don’t shine anywhere