NiceHCK EP10 Review – Why Pay More?
Pros — Complete package: natural timbre, open presentation, balanced from bass to treble, case included.
Cons — None.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The NiceHCK EP10 is a comfortable, slightly bassy single dynamic driver (DD) earphone with a surprisingly natural timbre, a clean but recessed midrange, and a smooth treble.
DISCLAIMER
I was asked by Jim NiceHCK to review this earphone and purchased it for $0.1. It is my goal to give you a concise, thorough, and accurate account of the earphone – and how it fits the big picture. Packaging and cable shape are of limited importance to me and will not get much attention here. In terms of visualization, I aim to focus on the relevant characteristic features of the earphone. Most photos and diagrams can be enlarged by clicking on them.
I prefer a neutral leaning tuning with a tight and dry bass – and not a V-shaped flavour. The higher the price of an earphone, the flatter of a frequency response I expect with the mids moving forward and becoming successively more intimate and natural.
As always, I tested the EP10 over an ever growing cross section of music that provided a broad coverage of the frequency spectrum, including naturally generated sounds such a voices and classical instruments.
Frequency response curves are now one of my standard staples of information in this price class. As to the graphs displayed here: the measuring coupler was two pieces of plastic tubing on the end of a Dayton iMM-6 microphone. No compensation or smoothing was applied. These measurements should not be directly compared to other measurements except those done on the same device, for example the ones I have posted before.
Following the review, the unit was donated.
INTRODUCTION
The good old single DD earphone has experienced a recent revival on the back of the progress in multi-driver hybrids. In contrast to the multis, a DD does not rely on crossovers that control the tuning between the different drivers. The DD technology is established, therefore working, and relatively cheap. Single DDs have come a long way since Sennheiser introduced their CX-300B in 2008 as an alterative to the earbuds included with phones and mp3 players. NiceHCK, an ODM seller, have recently introduced their ~$30 EP35 and the ~$10 EZAUDIO D4. Adding the EP10 fills the price gap between them.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Brand: NICEHCK
- Model: EP10
- Type: In-ear
- Drive unit: Single 10mm Dynamic driver unit (diaphragm material is PET and PEN mixed)
- Impedance: 32 Ω
- Earphone Sensitivity: 95 ±3 dB/mW
- Frequency Range: 20-40000Hz
- Earphone Plug: 3.5 mm
- Cable Length: 1.2m±3cm
- Available Colors: Silver, Black
- Earphone Plug Type: straight
- Price: $19.99 – $20.99 (depending whether with of without mic; at the time of this review)
- Purchase Link: NiceHCK Audio Store
PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES
The content comes in a plain white box that contains the standard NiceHCK earphone case will all goodies inside, packaged in a series of small plastic baggies. The content is laid out in the photo.
PHYSICAL APPEARANCE, HAPTIC, AND BUILD QUALITY
The NiceHCK EP10 looks like the love child from a ménage a trois between an Apple earpod, a Sennheiser earbud, and a Rock Zircon. The shells are made of a zinc-aluminium- magnesium-copper alloy called kirsite (or zamac) with a shiny polish; they look and feel valuable – and they are relatively heavy. The non-detachable braided cable has a chin slider and looks suspiciously like the latest designs used by Knowledge Zenith. The cable’s fixed nature also excludes any third-party cable sound improvement discussion. Handy!
ERGONOMICS, COMFORT, ISOLATION, AND FIT
The above mention ménage unites the best fit of all “trois”: very comfortable. In contrast to the NiceHCK EP35, the EP10’s nozzles are long enough for my Made-in-Germanyears. Isolation is ok for me but mileage may vary with ear-canal shape.
SOURCE AND EARTIPS
I ran the NiceHCK EP10 comfortably with my iPhone 5S. The large selection of eartips did not contain a pair big enough for my ear so that I relied on cheap third-party ones [no SpinFits and other cost-prohibitive ones in my ears].
TONALITY
The sound can be characterized as well rounded, warm and natural, built on a solid bass foundation. The smooth frequency curve response confirms a balanced image that is quite mature for its price category.
Both channels were measured several times in order to confirm the small channel imbalance.
The bass is weighty and has respectable dynamics with very good extension into the sub-bass – somebody at home down there. It is somewhere between fast and slow and does not smear into the midrange. As with most earphones in this class, I’d normally bicker the bass could be toned down a bit and more focused for my taste…however the bass fits the overall tonality well, adds warmth to the image, and somewhat defines the NiceHCK EP10’s signature. I quite like it.
The midrange, while recessed, is of astounding quality for this class. Voices have a natural timbre and a decent density but could be a bit more intimate (well, that’s what you pay the big bucks for). Male voices, in particular, have a good firmness. The upper midrange is emphasized to add extra energy to female voices but luckily no harshness. Treble is smooth and a couple of peaks in the 13 to 15 kHz area contribute some airiness and fake resolution.
Soundstage is surprisingly realistic and accurate. Resolution, separation, layering, and detail are all good to very good. I find the sound clear, transparent, and relatively open. Even tracks with big instrumentation are reproduced nicely and without crowding, at least at low to “normal” volumes.
So, what is missing when comparing the NiceHCK EP10 to, let’s say, a $200 earphone? Everything is “bigger” in the more expensive model: more intimate and natural and denser voices, a bigger, more life-sized soundstage, a better sense of space with more accurate instrument placement, but the bass is not necessarily superior (see my NiceHCK M6 take). Neverthless, without direct comparison, just out of memory, these differences may greatly shrink during listening – and an expensive earphone may not generate more pleasure than one like the EP10…but more certainly the ole “empty-wallet blues”.
SELECT COMPARISONS
The EP10 has a different flavour compared to its two DD siblings below: it is distinctly bassier and warmer sounding. They all play in the same league and the price difference lies mainly in the build imo. Click on each name to arrive at my detailed review.
EZAUDIO D4: has a tighter and more focused however much leaner bass. Voices are less dense and breathier – which adds clarity – but they are also less natural. Its overall signature is flatter, the EP10 sounds fuller. Built including cable of the EP10 is much superior.
Frequency responses of the D4 and EP10 (left channel).
NiceHCK EP35: overall very similar to the D4 it has the leanest low sound of all three and is therefore most appealing to “audiophiles”. Problematic fit for some because of its short nozzles. Detachable MMCX cable.
Frequency responses of the EP35 and EP10 (left channel).
CONCLUDING REMARKS
The NiceHCK EP10 is a unique looking, well-built, and fun sounding earphone with a natural timbre that I enjoyed over longer listening sessions. What sets it apart from the competition is its distinct shape and elegant looks and feel.
With its single driver, you eliminate the risk of disturbing peaks that are caused by potentially problematic crossovers (in hybrids). I find the recent progress even in this well- established DD technology in terms of sound quality – paired with the ever falling prices – amazing. The NiceHCK EP10 is yet another bus stop on the road to budget perfection.
In summary, the NiceHCK EP10 continues NiceHCK’s line of well-designed, reasonably priced ODM earphones and since quality and value are right on I have no reluctance recommending it.
You can get the NiceHCK EP10 only HERE.
