Reviews by Hasra Allidaf
Overall Sig : Warm, mild v shape, balanced with an emphasis on bass
The reason I bought the DQ6s was simply for views, thinking that these would generate a lot of views on my video since it is a collab with a popular Youtuber. But then the shipment got delayed and I got my pair late and everyone has a review up on it already weeks before me. I bought these thinking that I would not like it, I love bright sounds, and the DQ6s is basically DQ6 but warmer. I wasn’t all that into the OG DQ6, it is great, but a little to warm and relaxed for me, so naturally the DQ6s was on my “Buy it, review it, sell it” list. But when it came in the mail and I listened to it… boy was I wrong.
BASS
This is a part where I am pleasantly surprised by. It has got more bass than the OG, which I thought the original one is already quite thick on the low end, but this one has better extension towards the sub bass and has a bit more impact on the midbass. What I really like the most about it is the texture, I always thought the original to be a little too relaxed and smooth, the DQ6s however isn’t. Bass has a lot more texture and nothing sounds dull or smoothed over, adding the subbass rumble, it becomes very immersive. The impact is very nice and quite snappy as well, doesn’t feel slow. It does bleed towards the midrange just like the OG.
MID
Thick and luscious. Thanks to the aforementioned bass bleed, the mid, especially the vocal sounds warm and full of emotions. What surprises me is the fact that it seems to not be as recessed as the original DQ6, it feels more intimate and forward. Jazz sounds amazing on these, especially the ones that incorporates breathy sounding instruments, such as brass, sax, woodwinds, accordion and of course vocal. Sublime is the word to describe it, and maybe also natural. Nothing sounds artificial or weird (boxiness, thin or muffled). It does lack a little bit of air and sparkle, but even for a bright sound lover like me, it is okay and I don’t mind it at all. The upper mid towards the treble still presents you with enough crispness to help you hear all the textures and details, just not at the level of clarity of brighter sounding IEMs.
TREBLE
Treble is tamed, no doubt about it. The DQ6 is brighter, not significantly but quite noticeable. But it is more pleasant to listen to and less fatiguing. The problems that the DQ6 possesses still exists but isn’t as prominent by quite a significant margin. There are still some occasional peaks on some more percussive tracks and some sibilance on more sibilance prone tracks, but nowhere near as painful and as prevalent as the older brother. The treble does provide a good amount of crispness and texture, but I do have to say that I am missing a little bit of air and openness to the sound. I am a bright sound lover after all.
STAGE and TECH
Soundstage is just okay for me. There isn’t anything good or bad to mention here, it is sufficient. There are some tracks that sounds wider than the others, but overall its just alright. Detail retrieval is pretty good especially in the mid to low region, not the most analytical pair by any means, but details still can be heard nicely. You may have to listen and look for it on the higher region of the FR though, as some higher pitched details may not be as easily heard. The overall sound has a very good resolution, it sounds quite clean, graininess can still be heard but overall it sounds pretty well defined and clear. Imaging is pretty good as well, center, left and right is more prominent and easily pin pointed compared to the ‘diagonals’, but with that being said the ‘diagonal’ placements are pretty clear and discernible. Not bad at all.
QC Problems
My pair has a wiring issue, or grounding? I don’t know what exactly is wrong with it but it shocked my ears. I literally have to put on sandals or put a box under my feet so they won’t touch the ground, otherwise I’ll get shocked.
VERDICT
There’s a high possibility that I’ll be keeping these in my collection, LOL. It is more expensive than the original DQ6, but for me it is worth it. If you’re thinking about switching to the new one somehow, I’d say go ahead. Now it will still sound like the OG obviously, but better, much better.
Thanks for reading guys. Visit my youtube channel for a full video reviews and follow my Facebook page for some cool images of IEMs that I reviewed for your wallpapers.
YOUTUBE : NOIS REVIEWS
The reason I bought the DQ6s was simply for views, thinking that these would generate a lot of views on my video since it is a collab with a popular Youtuber. But then the shipment got delayed and I got my pair late and everyone has a review up on it already weeks before me. I bought these thinking that I would not like it, I love bright sounds, and the DQ6s is basically DQ6 but warmer. I wasn’t all that into the OG DQ6, it is great, but a little to warm and relaxed for me, so naturally the DQ6s was on my “Buy it, review it, sell it” list. But when it came in the mail and I listened to it… boy was I wrong.
BASS
This is a part where I am pleasantly surprised by. It has got more bass than the OG, which I thought the original one is already quite thick on the low end, but this one has better extension towards the sub bass and has a bit more impact on the midbass. What I really like the most about it is the texture, I always thought the original to be a little too relaxed and smooth, the DQ6s however isn’t. Bass has a lot more texture and nothing sounds dull or smoothed over, adding the subbass rumble, it becomes very immersive. The impact is very nice and quite snappy as well, doesn’t feel slow. It does bleed towards the midrange just like the OG.
MID
Thick and luscious. Thanks to the aforementioned bass bleed, the mid, especially the vocal sounds warm and full of emotions. What surprises me is the fact that it seems to not be as recessed as the original DQ6, it feels more intimate and forward. Jazz sounds amazing on these, especially the ones that incorporates breathy sounding instruments, such as brass, sax, woodwinds, accordion and of course vocal. Sublime is the word to describe it, and maybe also natural. Nothing sounds artificial or weird (boxiness, thin or muffled). It does lack a little bit of air and sparkle, but even for a bright sound lover like me, it is okay and I don’t mind it at all. The upper mid towards the treble still presents you with enough crispness to help you hear all the textures and details, just not at the level of clarity of brighter sounding IEMs.
TREBLE
Treble is tamed, no doubt about it. The DQ6 is brighter, not significantly but quite noticeable. But it is more pleasant to listen to and less fatiguing. The problems that the DQ6 possesses still exists but isn’t as prominent by quite a significant margin. There are still some occasional peaks on some more percussive tracks and some sibilance on more sibilance prone tracks, but nowhere near as painful and as prevalent as the older brother. The treble does provide a good amount of crispness and texture, but I do have to say that I am missing a little bit of air and openness to the sound. I am a bright sound lover after all.
STAGE and TECH
Soundstage is just okay for me. There isn’t anything good or bad to mention here, it is sufficient. There are some tracks that sounds wider than the others, but overall its just alright. Detail retrieval is pretty good especially in the mid to low region, not the most analytical pair by any means, but details still can be heard nicely. You may have to listen and look for it on the higher region of the FR though, as some higher pitched details may not be as easily heard. The overall sound has a very good resolution, it sounds quite clean, graininess can still be heard but overall it sounds pretty well defined and clear. Imaging is pretty good as well, center, left and right is more prominent and easily pin pointed compared to the ‘diagonals’, but with that being said the ‘diagonal’ placements are pretty clear and discernible. Not bad at all.
QC Problems
My pair has a wiring issue, or grounding? I don’t know what exactly is wrong with it but it shocked my ears. I literally have to put on sandals or put a box under my feet so they won’t touch the ground, otherwise I’ll get shocked.
VERDICT
There’s a high possibility that I’ll be keeping these in my collection, LOL. It is more expensive than the original DQ6, but for me it is worth it. If you’re thinking about switching to the new one somehow, I’d say go ahead. Now it will still sound like the OG obviously, but better, much better.
Thanks for reading guys. Visit my youtube channel for a full video reviews and follow my Facebook page for some cool images of IEMs that I reviewed for your wallpapers.
YOUTUBE : NOIS REVIEWS
Okay, I have to put a disclaimer here that I am a fan of bright sound. Treble excites me more than bass. So when this I found out that this NiceHCK DB1 is on the brighter side of IEMs I bought it right away. it doesn't help that it is very cheap. What I'm trying to say here is that my preference towards bright sound may create a bias to those who are sensitive to treble. So take everything I said with a grain of salt, especially if you are dark sound lover.
This IEM came in a 'Waifu' printed box which seems to be the trend for Asian made IEMs nowadays. Now, I'm no anime or manga fans nor I am a hater of that culture, so I didn't care too much about that. It came with barebones accessories, just extra tips, the usual. But it is on the cheaper side of IEMs, so I wouldn't hold it against them for that. By the way, the DB1 will run you about 15$, maybe even cheaper. What makes it even more exciting for me is that right now my fav IEM is the CCA CRA, which falls in the same price bracket as the DB1. So, I am curious how the two would fare against each other.
DESIGN, BUILD and FIT
Nothing to note here, just a simple transparent plastic housing with a rather cool design on it. It feels light and hollow, the plastic seems to be on the thinner side. Comparing it to the CRA, the CRA feels more dense and heavier. Now the driver inside the DB1 is rather small and it only took up a little space within the shell. I guess thats why it is so hollow feeling. Though I wish they could've used thicker plastic or a smaller housing it wouldn't have any effects on the sound or the comfort. Since it is pretty comfortable to wear already. The cable could be a bit thicker but with that being said, the provided cable does feel quite flexible and easy to manage. and it comes with a velcro cable ties.
SOUND
BASS, this is not a bassy IEM by any means, but it does provide you with enough low end to give the sound a little bit of a body. It may not be sufficient for bassheads, but for those who likes a more neutral tuning, it is more than enough. Its punchy and rather quick as well. Very controlled and never sounds boomy or muddy for me. It does bleed a little bit to the lower mid though and give a slight body to lower male vocals.
MID. Overall the midrange sounds clean and of good resolution. It is not recessed, nor it is forward. It is a little on the brighter side of midrange, so it does cuts through the mix quite well giving it a clear sound despite being not too forward. The upper midrange sounds airy and sparkly without being over emphasized. Acoustic guitar and distortion sounds very well textured and crisp. Rock and metal sounds great on these in my opinion.
TREBLE. Now this is my favorite part of the sound. It is bright and crispy, yet non fatiguing. very good extension without being too bright, and it gives a sense of openness and airiness to the sound. It sounds very natural and pleasing. Sounds feel like its coming from outside of my ears. Combined with the upper mid range, it gives a very good amount of clarity and texture.
STAGE and IMAGE. Soundstage is pretty wide on these. It is not the widest but it is pretty good. The imaging is also good, accuracy is pretty well excecuted. There are times where it feels like some sounds are coming out from outside my room in real life when it is actually coming from the music.
TECH. Detail retrieval is very good, especially in the treble area. on the midrange and the bass, not so much, especially when the music gets too busy. Separation is average, again when the music is busy with a lot of instruments it gets a bit hazy and the bass loses a bit of definition.
VERDICT
It is a very pleasing sounding IEM with a great wow factor (the bright and airiness). For the price it is solid and performs in my opinion, above its price range, not by much though. The very relaxingly bright sound is a breath of fresh air in a market saturated with heavy v shaped tuning IEMs. Now, for those who are actually into a more fun sound, this might not satisfy you. Comparing it with the CCA CRA, it is calmer and less exciting, so pick one that suits your music and preference. To me, both the CRA and DB1 now are two of my faves in a budget category.
Thanks for reading guys. Visit my youtube channel for more reviews and videos, as well as some wallpapers for free.
My Youtube Video Review
This IEM came in a 'Waifu' printed box which seems to be the trend for Asian made IEMs nowadays. Now, I'm no anime or manga fans nor I am a hater of that culture, so I didn't care too much about that. It came with barebones accessories, just extra tips, the usual. But it is on the cheaper side of IEMs, so I wouldn't hold it against them for that. By the way, the DB1 will run you about 15$, maybe even cheaper. What makes it even more exciting for me is that right now my fav IEM is the CCA CRA, which falls in the same price bracket as the DB1. So, I am curious how the two would fare against each other.
DESIGN, BUILD and FIT
Nothing to note here, just a simple transparent plastic housing with a rather cool design on it. It feels light and hollow, the plastic seems to be on the thinner side. Comparing it to the CRA, the CRA feels more dense and heavier. Now the driver inside the DB1 is rather small and it only took up a little space within the shell. I guess thats why it is so hollow feeling. Though I wish they could've used thicker plastic or a smaller housing it wouldn't have any effects on the sound or the comfort. Since it is pretty comfortable to wear already. The cable could be a bit thicker but with that being said, the provided cable does feel quite flexible and easy to manage. and it comes with a velcro cable ties.
SOUND
BASS, this is not a bassy IEM by any means, but it does provide you with enough low end to give the sound a little bit of a body. It may not be sufficient for bassheads, but for those who likes a more neutral tuning, it is more than enough. Its punchy and rather quick as well. Very controlled and never sounds boomy or muddy for me. It does bleed a little bit to the lower mid though and give a slight body to lower male vocals.
MID. Overall the midrange sounds clean and of good resolution. It is not recessed, nor it is forward. It is a little on the brighter side of midrange, so it does cuts through the mix quite well giving it a clear sound despite being not too forward. The upper midrange sounds airy and sparkly without being over emphasized. Acoustic guitar and distortion sounds very well textured and crisp. Rock and metal sounds great on these in my opinion.
TREBLE. Now this is my favorite part of the sound. It is bright and crispy, yet non fatiguing. very good extension without being too bright, and it gives a sense of openness and airiness to the sound. It sounds very natural and pleasing. Sounds feel like its coming from outside of my ears. Combined with the upper mid range, it gives a very good amount of clarity and texture.
STAGE and IMAGE. Soundstage is pretty wide on these. It is not the widest but it is pretty good. The imaging is also good, accuracy is pretty well excecuted. There are times where it feels like some sounds are coming out from outside my room in real life when it is actually coming from the music.
TECH. Detail retrieval is very good, especially in the treble area. on the midrange and the bass, not so much, especially when the music gets too busy. Separation is average, again when the music is busy with a lot of instruments it gets a bit hazy and the bass loses a bit of definition.
VERDICT
It is a very pleasing sounding IEM with a great wow factor (the bright and airiness). For the price it is solid and performs in my opinion, above its price range, not by much though. The very relaxingly bright sound is a breath of fresh air in a market saturated with heavy v shaped tuning IEMs. Now, for those who are actually into a more fun sound, this might not satisfy you. Comparing it with the CCA CRA, it is calmer and less exciting, so pick one that suits your music and preference. To me, both the CRA and DB1 now are two of my faves in a budget category.
Thanks for reading guys. Visit my youtube channel for more reviews and videos, as well as some wallpapers for free.
My Youtube Video Review
Attachments
Hello Everybody, this is my short impression of the hyped CCA CRA. This is my first IEM review after a long hiatus from this hobby and I'm by no means an expert nor I am the most knowledgeable in this hobby. This is just my experience with the IEM, hope it’ll be of help and informative for you guys.
So, when I heard about the release of the CCA CRA and some people saying that it’s got an extended and sparkly treble, I was very excited. Being the treblehead that I am. So I jumped the gun and ordered one from China.
My First impression was.. Okay, there’s a lot of low end on these. The bass is actually quite extended and emphasized. People are talking about the Treble, but the bass here is no slouch either. Now, for me, I’m not much of a fan of the bass, but I think I will satisfy some bassheads out there.
The bass is thick and extended. The midbass is a little boomy and unrefined for me. The detail and speed isn’t really that impressive. The sub is rumbly. When the kick drum gets a little too busy and quick, the note definition starts to get mushy and boomy. It does bleed a bit to the mids. Its V shaped so it is expected.
The Mids. Low male vocal does sound pretty lush and thick because of the bleed. Female vocal sounds forward and engaging, might be a little sharp sometimes, but not to a point where it gets bothersome. Sibilance in my experience is not that bad, some people actually experienced a lot of sibilance. Acoustic guitar sounds sparkly and has a nice body and texture to it, distortion sounds gnarly on these. Piano sounds clean and crisp. Very lively.
Treble is where this thing shines, at least for me. Well extended, clear and sparkly. May be a bit aggressive for non treble heads but coupled with the big bass I think it is still bearable for the treble sensitive, but don’t get me wrong it is not sharp and painful at all. But then again I am really into treble so take that with a grain of salt. Detail and separation are nice.
Soundstage is quite expansive, not the biggest, but certainly pretty wide. There are instances where I swear I heard sounds coming out of my room or from the adjacent terrace outside my room, but it was just the song that I was listening to. Imaging is pretty good, clear left and right, good centre image with everything in between sounding pretty discernible, not the most accurate and the clearest though.
Overall this IEM for what you pay for, is a very solid. Engaging, clear and lively especially if you like brighter sound. Not the most versatile of IEM because of the treble though, some brighter recordings might be a problem for some. But it is a fun IEM on a budget.
Thanks for reading this review. Please visit my youtube (nois.reviews) channel and Instagram for more photos and videos. Thanks Guys!
So, when I heard about the release of the CCA CRA and some people saying that it’s got an extended and sparkly treble, I was very excited. Being the treblehead that I am. So I jumped the gun and ordered one from China.
My First impression was.. Okay, there’s a lot of low end on these. The bass is actually quite extended and emphasized. People are talking about the Treble, but the bass here is no slouch either. Now, for me, I’m not much of a fan of the bass, but I think I will satisfy some bassheads out there.
The bass is thick and extended. The midbass is a little boomy and unrefined for me. The detail and speed isn’t really that impressive. The sub is rumbly. When the kick drum gets a little too busy and quick, the note definition starts to get mushy and boomy. It does bleed a bit to the mids. Its V shaped so it is expected.
The Mids. Low male vocal does sound pretty lush and thick because of the bleed. Female vocal sounds forward and engaging, might be a little sharp sometimes, but not to a point where it gets bothersome. Sibilance in my experience is not that bad, some people actually experienced a lot of sibilance. Acoustic guitar sounds sparkly and has a nice body and texture to it, distortion sounds gnarly on these. Piano sounds clean and crisp. Very lively.
Treble is where this thing shines, at least for me. Well extended, clear and sparkly. May be a bit aggressive for non treble heads but coupled with the big bass I think it is still bearable for the treble sensitive, but don’t get me wrong it is not sharp and painful at all. But then again I am really into treble so take that with a grain of salt. Detail and separation are nice.
Soundstage is quite expansive, not the biggest, but certainly pretty wide. There are instances where I swear I heard sounds coming out of my room or from the adjacent terrace outside my room, but it was just the song that I was listening to. Imaging is pretty good, clear left and right, good centre image with everything in between sounding pretty discernible, not the most accurate and the clearest though.
Overall this IEM for what you pay for, is a very solid. Engaging, clear and lively especially if you like brighter sound. Not the most versatile of IEM because of the treble though, some brighter recordings might be a problem for some. But it is a fun IEM on a budget.
Thanks for reading this review. Please visit my youtube (nois.reviews) channel and Instagram for more photos and videos. Thanks Guys!
Attachments
