The earpieces are made of robust plastic similar to the Bro and comparable KZ models…as we have seen it over and over before. The cable is identical to the NiceHCK M6’s and is somewhere middle of the road in terms of fanciness.

…are standard for this standard shape.

I used the iPhone 5S for listening and the included black wide-bore tips (same as the NiceHCK M6’s) worked nicely for me.

The NiceHCK P3’s features a slightly warm and balanced appearing sound with a reasonably natural timbre and an image that is superficially good. The devil is in the detail. The frequency response is somewhat linear without annoying pierce, harshness, or sibilance. However, the bass and treble roll off too early, which makes the sound somewhat unexciting.

The bass is reasonably well focused and this focus extends into the sub-bass, but there is not too much of a low end – it starts rolling off at 200 Hz and more dramatically so in the sub-bass below 60 Hz: not much rumble or visceral sensation.

The midrange shows a trough around 1 kHz which can translate to somewhat distant, sometimes hollow, breathy voices that deserve more richness and body. Stevie Nicks’ voice in “Dreams” lacks contour and definition and comes across as unsatisfying.

Treble rolls off way too early, which reduces clarity, air, and sparkle. Diana Krall’s high piano notes in “The Boy from Ipanema” sound somewhat uninspired. Cymbals in the Housemartins’ “Build” also lack life. Jethro Tull’s “Hunting Girl” combines all of the above with a lame attack, a pale bass, and a dull flute at the top end.

Overall, there could be more punch and expression. Soundstage, well, soundstage…listening to the rather “crowded” orchestra felt like searching desperately for my seat while they had already started playing. There is only little sense of space. As if I had lost orientation, I could not locate the individual instruments. Similar Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” live at the Wembley Live Aid: the depth of the stadium with the sing-along crowd is not well reproduced – the three-dimensionality is lacking. It almost feels like a mono recording. In summary instrument separation, layering, resolution, detail… they all leave some to be desired.

Comparison of frequency responses of NiceHCK models P3 (red) and Bro (green).

The NiceHCK P3 is by no means a bad earphone, but considering the tough competition in this congested market segment and the fast development of budget hybrids, it does not add anything. It tries to mimic more expensive models but disappoints in the details. The P3 is simply not as engaging and vivid as one would expect in this class and should be re-tuned. From discussion with modders one of the problems could be that the NiceHCK P3 does not get enough air in the back, which could cause the bass rolloff – and an air vent through the face place should be added. The nozzles could be dampened too much – so I speculate – which may cause the treble rolloff – but removing the dampening may make the lower treble too aggressive. Future modding activity will give evidence.

On the other hand, the NiceHCK P3 reveals how much I like its orphaned little brother, the single DD NiceHCK Bro – at a third of the price. As so often, less is more, and a budget single DD is a relatively safe bet these days. But if you insist on a hybrid, I recommend forking out the extra money for the much superior M6 (if you can handle the bass).

You can acquire the NiceHCK P3 exclusively HERE (and the Bro THERE).