Astrotec NG30

I certainly didn’t come from the space race timeline nor have I witnessed significant space exploration milestones in my lifetime until now. When I first heard of the Astrotec brand, it got me thinking that maybe they are making equipment using space tech because you know, Astro plus Tec or maybe not but one thing is for sure, their products are "celestial-bodies" inspired especially their earlier iterations with the shimmering and rounded edges. What we have now to realview is the Astrotec NG30, their entry level dynamic in-ear earphone. Thanks to Astrotec for providing the realview unit in exchange for honest opinions, you can check out their official online store, Astrotec, in case you’d want to grab one. The NG30 sports a single 10mm Dynamic driver which is a DuPont multi-layered coated diaphragm and a CCAW light mass voice coil, along with these the rest of the NG30 specs are 16 Ohms, 110db Sensitivity and a Frequency Response of 8Hz-27KHz. Astrotec is quite buzzing right now with a lot of products about to be released and let see if they can build upon the NG30 on the entry-level market.




Let’s once again mention that this IEM is priced at $29.90 but when you see its packaging and presentation, you’d have mistaken in to be within the $50-60 range. The packaging is a glossy dark gray box with orange accents and labeled on the cover is Astrotec’s branding and the NG30 name along with their slogan “Explore real music”, perfect for a realview, right? The backside showcases the earphone specs and the company details. Opening up the box shows the NG30 covered with an opaque plastic cover along with the foam insert as a cushion, underneath the foam insert is where the magic happens.


Astrotec has managed to cramp a gray pouch which is built great and works awesome. They also included a silicon ear guide, 3 sized silicon tips (S, M, L) and black foam tips. The NG30 housing is a bullet-type 2-piece aluminum which had a dark hue of gun metal to them, it is robust yet had at least 2 nicks on them out of the box. There is a vent on the underside right next to rubber housing for the cable. It was easy to hold and use with the ear tips providing all means of isolation and seal so choose what’s best for you.


The cable is supple and doesn’t tangle at all when stored on its pouch, microphonics however is easily observed on the NG30. Thankfully there is a chin slider on the cable and the right-angled 3.5mm gold-plated plug also has great strain relief. With all these accessories and build quality and at the price of $29.90, the NG30 is already a winner.



Not really having heard of any Astrotec products before except for some which I already forgot made the NG30 their introduction for me as to what they can do, this time on the entry level audiophile market. The NG30 right off the box sounded smooth and mellow when I used my OnePlus 3T device for the 1st week that I had it. I also used an Opus 1, Sony ZX1, Ibasso dzero mk2 and the Sony CAS-1 to test how it scales. I had the Shawn Mendes “Handwritten” album in 16/44 FLAC on my OnePlus 3T and the NG30 sounded mellow on the midrange and on the highs with the low-end being the prominent frequency rearing its head all over, Shawn Mendes’ “Something Big” track sounded dynamic and full while clarity and detail retrieval took a back seat. It was great to find out that the NG30 can sound good on a mobile phone, warm and mellow that is. For the rest of the realview, we would be using the stock foam tips and the Opus 1.



The low-end performance of the NG30 was tested with Anathema’s “Distant Satellites” in 16/44 FLAC. The steady influx of the bass frequencies has a tight presence and creates a soothing feel that is steadily felt more than it is heard. Transitioning into “Cymatics” by Nigel Stanford in 16/44 FLAC which by the way has a great video that I would recommend you check out as well, the bass impact had good grip and was right on point in speed and the bass decay didn’t overcast to the lower midrange. The NG30’s performance on the low-end over multiple sources clearly cuts through to reveal that it is the leader of the band.


Dire Straits’ “Brother in Arms” in 16/44 FLAC took the stage for NG30’s midrange examination. The male voice in here sounded clear, guttural but still pleasant and airs out a rumble which is nice to be this audible on the NG30. Guitar plucks are clear and distinct with a soft hollow effect. The upper midrange delivery is crisp on the snare hits giving a good upper frequency coherence. Trying out Norah Jones’ “Don’t Know Why” in 16/44 FLAC gives out a breathy response with the female vocals turning clear and gentle sounding. The NG30 works well with both the male and female vocals and the upper midrange is also clear enough to please the ears.


I summoned Candy Dulfer’s “Lily was Here – Live with Dave Stewart” in 16/44 FLAC to try out for the upper frequency diagnosis and they obliged. The treble presentation on the NG30 is controlled quite well yet with a dialed back definition which I hoped wasn’t the case since the low-end of the NG30 already resonates well. The snares and cymbal crashes are crisp which doesn’t sizzle and doesn’t sound too musical. I would have loved for a more definite detail retrieval yet the NG30 still does the job.


The NG30’s low-end, midrange and upper frequency coherence showcases a rather narrow soundstage which is intimate yet not congested. Instrument separation and imaging is notable with a toned-down clarity thus attributing to the overall NG30 warm and cozy sound signature.



Astrotec has been around for some time and has already released a number of audiophile products and with their NG30 offering for the entry level audiophile market. They are hoping that it gains traction to its users for their upcoming releases. The NG30 is built cleanly and had no major aesthetic flaws. The cable although a bit microphonic works wonderfully and doesn’t tangle which is a big plus since it sports a non-removable configuration making replacing the cable a non-option when it breaks. The sound is enjoyable on a daily basis and will do good for casual listening. The accessory set is stellar along with the included black foam tips which complements the NG30 quite well. You’d be hard pressed to find a $30 IEM with the smooth sound profile of the NG30 and still get a complete accessory set that you can indeed use for the exact purpose you’d cop the NG30 yourself, to enjoy music effortlessly.

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Introduction: Astrotec is a Chinese company that produces IEMs and earbuds and is more known or their Lyra series earbuds though their new Delphinus 5 may change that. What I'll be reviewing now is their new budget line IEM called the NG30 which comes in only one color (grey).

I would like to thank Astrotec for providing me with a review sample in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. You can buy the Astrotec NG30 at their AliExpress Store or locally if your retailer has them in stock.





Specification:
Driver: 10mm dynamic driver
Sensitivity: 110dB/1mw (S.P.L. at 1KHz)
Input: 3 mW
Max Input: 12 mW
Frequency response: 8-27kHz
Impedance: 16Ω
Cable length: 1.2M specially developed cable
Plug: 3.5mm Stereo Gold Plated Plug

The NG30 is easy to drive with it's nominally low 16Ω impedance and gets good and loud even with my Xperia and old iPhone. Sound quality does scale up with sources, up to the level indicated in this review using my WM1a.



Unboxing: The Astrotech NG30 hard cardboard box is relatively small but not compact. It opens like a book with the magnetic latch and the IEM is protected further by a matte plastic shield. Underneath it is the IEM in a foam slab and the rest of the accessories are under that foam.



The accessories that come with the NG30 is a little average, a QC pass card, manual, 3 pairs of silicone eartips and 1 pair of foam ones plus the handy carrying pouch cover the standard contents, a pair of ear hooks for wearing over the ear is added for those who might need or want it, personally letting the NG30 is just fine.



Cable/Build/Design: The cable is nice and flexible though it can retain a little bit of shape/curves after unrolling, it's also a little microphonic, however the design does lend to a relatively smooth texture and feels strong against accidental tugs and pulls. Overall cable design looks nice and resists tangling well. The 3.5mm jack is metallic and thin enough to be used on phones with cases, the strain relief is stiff rubber and will very likely do it's job well. The metal shelled y-splitter and chin slider are cylindrical tubes that look nice and functional. The NG30 has non removable cables and thus has a nice solid strain relief at the shell. The overall sturdiness of the design does lend a feeling of durability.

The IEM shell is metallic, with no bumps, color bands/dots or lettering to indicate left and right, instead the NG30 relies on the red triangle shape at the end of the shell pointing to where the shell should face (point forward) and works pretty well, if you're tactile sensitive enough, you can feel the shape's indentation with your fingers in the dark and identify it that way. The tube shape lends to an easy fit into most ears and is quite light for the material used and the driver/magnet inside, the tip has a nice tip lip that keeps tips securely on the NG30. The nozzle itself is protected by a fine mesh, under the nozzle along the cable entrance are 2 tiny holes, one before the diaphragm to prevent driver flexing during use and insertion and another for venting the back pressure of the driver. The overall design is sound and works for the sound achieved and similarly encourages a feeling of durability.



Sound Analysis: When I initially tried the NG30, I thought it was very close to my ideal signature of music with good felt bass, a bit forward mids and nice treble. That was done using the Symbio W tips (which I realized does make the sound a bit more open, less restrained), considering the stock tips are not bad and at the level of the NG30, some may not have access to Symbio W tips I decided to do this review using the stock tips and after running the NG30 through 200+ hours of music. Just note that depending on the tip used, there may be sonic differences in your experience.

Bass: The NG30 has an above average sub-bass extension that propagates naturally with Way Down Deep's drum beats and has a nice lingering rumble here. This ties in with a very slightly slow speed of decay, giving most music a nice little linger in the sub-bass that doesn't negatively impact bass resolution. Lose Yourself to Dance sounded good and fun with a nicely felt bass impact that's a little bit above average in weight and well controlled. For non bass-heads, this will be a very likely satisfying bass experience as it can give good bass reproduction, quantity, and impact that is felt but overall does not overwhelm or take center stage.



Mids: The lower mids on the NG30 is quite entertaining, there is some forwardness on the lower mids that helps give them presence and the bass gives them adequate warmth and avoids sounding hollow and yet not full and thick. Bohemian Rhapsody's vocals sound a bit close to my ears and can be rather emotive. The upper mids are more forward than the lower mids and gives female vocals a nice and intimate feeling. There is an average amount of thickness and clarity with the vocals overall here with similar retrieval of details. Separation is pretty nice as the music does not sound congested on moderately busy tracks.

Treble: The treble is a little laid back on the NG30 with just enough extension to sound pleasant but quite safe. There's a lack of crisp and sparkle but there is no sibilance or harshness present. Details are on the average side and can still present a good enjoyable experience overall with some space and a natural tone especially with cymbal crashes.

Soundstage: There is an above average stage to the NG30, where the horizontal width is larger than the height but the way it's tuned allows it to avoid sounding congested or compressed. There is enough space for the music to play with clarity and fun. Imaging is on the average in accuracy.



Conclusion: The Astrotec NG30 a good sounding IEM with a nicely balanced tuning, and ability to please most people with how the music is presented. And though this will not be satisfying bass-heads anywhere, there is enough good bass and sub-bass reverb to sound great on dance tracks that rely on good fun bass. All the while it provides good mids that have presence and can be emotive on more soulful tracks, but won't be fatiguing or harsh for those sensitive to bright trebles. For the money, the NG30 is a good choice for people who like a wide range of musical genre's but have mild sensitivities to strongly presented treble.




Sound testing was done using a Sony WM1a (Primarily), a Hiby R6, Zishan Z1(for comparison), Audirect Beam (for computer convenience) and a phone (for checking driveability) volume matched to 90.X db of max volume for safe hearing below 8 hours of use and calibrated using a 1kh tone on a dedicated DB Meter, all sources patched through a switcher. More information will be available on the About Me page (once I find the time to write it up.)

Introduction: Astrotec is a name that is not unfamiliar to us at this point. In fact on this very site, I have reviewed their flagship IEM the AM850 here. The AM850 was an interesting IEM that had a very upscale look, with an attractive fun tuning. The model we have here is somewhat of a little brother, the NG30. This particular model from them plans to compete in the ever busy "budget-fi" category at a retail of $30. Does Astrotec live up to the precedent that was set by the AM850 that it seems to inherit some DNA from, given the similar packaging, build, and internal components? Will it be able to hold up with the growing competition in this price range?


Disclaimer: Astrotec provided me with the NG30 in exchange of a honest evaluation. All thoughts are my own and I received no monetary incentive for this review. I do not have to return the NG30 to Astrotec.



Specifications:

10mm Dynamic Driver Unit

DuPont multi layer coated diaphragm

CCAW Light mass voice coil

16 Ohms Impedance

110db/1mw Sensitivity

Frequency Response 8Hz-27KHz





Packaging and Accessories: The NG30 comes in typical attractive Astrotec packaging, the box and the design isn't unlike what you would see in more fashionable audio stores, the front has an image of the IEM with some graphics, while the back contains specifications of the unit. The minor touches like the loop on the top to hang from retail display racks, and the Astrotec sticker serving as a seal show the attention to detail that is shown in the design of their products. Opening the packaging reveals the IEMs in a cut foam mold behind a plastic screen. Underneath the foam you can see the warranty card, the attractive gray leather pouch with a magnetic clasp, and the tip and earhook selection, ranging from S/M/L silicone eartips and 1 pair of foam eartips. Overall the packaging looks premium, while the included accessories also have a premium feel with the soft touch materials, and classy touches as well as foam ear tips that for the price are very welcome inclusions.





Build and Fit: The NG30 follows in the similar design aesthetic of the AM850 with a aluminum shell in a dark gunmetal finish, and simple red accents on the rear of the barrel where a simple geometrical engraving breaks apart the bare shell aesthetic. The cable is in line with the AM850 with a similar look and feel, with the biggest notable difference being the text on the Y-split. SPeaking of the Y-split, both that, the chin cinch, and the barrel of the L-plug are plastic cores with an aluminum shell with the same gunmetal. Build is good, it feels solid in hand, and while the color matching of the shell paint isn't perfect, and the seam is a bit wider than I'd like but it's nothing glaring for the most part, and what parts are normally seen are classy and clean. As with the AM850 the same caveat with the cable being on the rubbery side persist, but those issues are even easier to look past given the price point.





Sound: As always I've listened to the NG30 extensively and with a nyriad of devices ranging from the LG G6, OnePlus 5T, FiiO Q1 Mk II, ifi xDSD, Hiby R6, and straight out of my laptop audio. The NG30 is very easy to drive and I doubt any modern phone would have trouble powering it. The overall signature presented is a warm and smooth L-shape with well extended and forward bass, slightly recessed mids, and treble that exhibits a light brightness that manifests in a rather mild manner.



Bass: The bass on the NG30 is the star of the show. It has above average subbass extension that leads to bass drum kicks that hit firm and then will decay slowly, lending each bass hit to have an organic full timbre and a natural texture that appears can add the extra oomph needed in many songs. The recording of Daughters by The John Mayer Trio starts with a deliberate drum beat, that fills the sound field very well, and in that song the drum beat becomes accompanies with both bass and lead guitars after a few seconds, this brings us perfectly to the midbass. The midbass exemplifies similar characteristics to the subbass, slightly slower without being lethargic, so when the the bass guitars enter, it slowly spreads and lingers and as the note decays it has a very good textural aspect, especially when the note reverberates as many bass notes in slower songs do. Combined the bass provides a full experience that will please even moderate bassheads, especially those looking for a more typical bass tonality.



Mids: The vocals on the NG30 are a bit tricky. On their own on mostly vocal centric songs, particularly "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" by Death Cab for Cutie, the vocals are actually quite well defined, there's enough definition there that I definitely wouldn't call the vocals disappointing, in fact they were pleasant upon discovering it, the problem herein lies because once you add a bass guitar or bass drum, the vocals start to get left behind and just fall back from the low end. It's a similar story with instruments, listening to Alter the Ending by Dashboard Confessional, the vocals don't sound too thin, but even the acoustic guitar can have more prominence, the instrument reproduction however was another pleasant surprise especially the lower mids. Upper mids are quite nice having enough energy to cut through the bass, but again somewhat at the expense of some vocal prominence.



Treble: The high frequencies are a little bit boosted over the mids, but only ever so slightly. There doesn't seem to be much sibilance being produced. There is a mild and pleasant crisp sparkle you can hear on guitars, violins, and piano tracks, like on "Belle of the Boulevard" enough to stop the signature from being too dark. Cymbal hits are quite nice, and it's not harsh. However while there is some bite to the treble, there isn't much in the way of air in the sound.



Presentation: The overall resolution of the NG30 across the frequency range is above my expectations, from the texture of the bass, to the vocals and instrumentation. Once they commingle however there can be times where it gets a bit too busy for its own good and the gains in resolution are lost to the difficulty in layering and separation. In more relaxed song this isn't an issue however. Stereo separation is good, slightly extending outside the ear, however height and depth are only average. To get the most out of the NG30 the rule of keeping it on the simpler side definitely applies.



Conclusion: I quite like the NG30. It has a very pleasant signature, that many will find attractive, and resolving capability that I wasn't expecting. Together the build, sound, package and accessories provide for what the casual listener that wants an upgrade from their daily driver prepackaged IEMs. It's classy but still simple, the only thing that this could use would be an inline mic and some controls. Other than that I can't think of much considering that the NG30 will only set you back $30. It's a good deal, and definitely beats a lot of the stuff you might see hanging on retail shelves. So if you are in the market for something relatively affordable, that doesn't sacrifice aesthetics, build or accessories, with a mainstream friendly sound that isn't muddled, the Astrotec NG30 is definitely worth a look.