Dynamic drivers are the most common transducers among the listening gear, as it was also known for their reliability, efficiency and also easy to produce in large numbers. It is made up of four main sections; magnetic structure, diaphragm, voice coil and suspension. The basic principle on this part is the interaction of magnetic structure as the reaction of the diaphragm that was attached to voice coil and suspension, and with that motion, it vibrates and produces a sound wave that we perceive.
What I have here is the latest product from
ND Audio, and it is an IEM earphone with a single driver configuration inside of its earpiece. This is ND NX2, it has a 10mm dynamic driver with ultra thin composite diaphragm that can deliver a firm and impactful bass response with warmer and vivid sound on the midrange and treble section.
It was encapsulated in a gem-like cut contours on its clear transparent PVC shell casing in compact size. And aside from the clear colourway, it is available in two other colourway options,a dark knight black one and on the other choice, a dreamy colour. Like most ultra-budget level IEMS, it uses a QDC-type 2-pin connector as its interlocking mechanism, in which I still have some qualms about this type of connector.
The stock cable of this one is pretty basic but practical enough to use, it has a four-core structure composed of silver-plated copper wiring with a PVC insulator on its thread. The stranded wires were twisted for better transmission and somehow to lessen some microphonics effect and it's quite flexible to hold. It has a 3.5mm termination plug on its end but you can opt to choose the other option with a built-in mic variant.
When it comes to fitting and comfort, this set fits alright and it can snug decently into my lugholes without any sort of discomfort that might be irritating during a long listening session. But it only offers a decent passive noise isolation as it is able to barely block some unwanted external noises from the outside surroundings.
The product packaging of this one is quite minimalist and its contents are rather bare-bones in terms of quantity. Inside of its packaging box, we will find a pair of transducer earpieces, cable, three pairs of silicone ear tips and a warranty card.
As for its amplification requirement, the ND NX2 is sensitive enough that it can be driven by devices with usual default gain mode a.k.a. normal gain mode which has lower noise floor while maintaining a sufficient power output. With this enough power output, it will deliver a dynamic and a full range sound. Smartphones or any devices with a 3.5mm analogue would be enough for this set.
The tonal profile of this one is very coloured as it has a V-shaped sound signature which has more emphasis on lows and highs while the midrange is noticeably recessed on its overall frequency spectrum.
LOWS/BASS:
Quite a bit of a boomy, striking and considerably haptic sound as it is my initial impression on its bass response as it has more of a texture on mid bass and also a fairly discernibly sub bass presence. For sure that this is not the cleanest bass quality as its mid bass tends to bleed across the midrange presentation.
On the sub bass section, there’s a noticeable rumbling and reverberations that were produced by specific instruments like synthesisers, drum machines and some strings like double-basses and bass guitars. The mid bass has a good density on its notes that gives a weighty sound on double-basses,an earthy sound on the bass guitars and a boomy sound on the bass kick drums. Male vocals like basses and bass-baritones have a woolly, gravelly and dusky sound as it has a full,resonating and a boomy response with a dark timbre.
MIDRANGE:
The midrange presentation of this one is certainly recessed as some of its instruments and vocals sound pushed back on its overall frequency response but to the smudging on the mid bass on the lower midrange, it adds some warmth to sound full and rich sound on the vocal section particularly on male type ones and also on female vocals like contraltos and mezzo-sopranos. Another thing is that it has enough energy for strings, woodwinds and female vocals as it balances out in contrast with the texture and warmth on the lower mids.
On the male vocals, as I mention the adequate warmth and smoothness of it as baritones have a plushiness on their voice, a juicy sound on the tenors and a mellower sound on countertenors. As female vocals, there’s a rich and smoky chest voice from contraltos, a velvety sound on mezzo-sopranos and then satiny and creamy sound on the sopranos which is rather ideal on the dramatic ones.
When it comes to instruments, on the string ones, guitars sound buttery and mellow while cellos sound a bit calm and wafting and violins sound soft and austere in my liking. Moreover on the woodwinds, concert flutes sound soft and mellow, and saxophones have that melancholic and soft sound from them. Regarding brasses, the trumpets, trombones and horns, they sound full, rounded and warm respectively while on the percussives like snares, tom-toms, field drums and kettledrums, they sound hard, warm, boomy and mellow in corresponding order. The pianos seem to have those rich, mellow and sweet sounds on them.
HIGHS/TREBLE:
On how the treble response is done here, although it has coloured tuning, it still maintains that balance with the bass response as it has a smooth, inoffensive and pleasant treble quality but there are slight caveats that I should address. It appears that sometimes it is quite lacking of that “finesse” and clarity that it doesn't highlight enough the detail and definition on vocals and to some extent, attack on instruments but it has still some upsides as we will not encounter those sharpness, sibilance and piercing sound that will bothersome in a long listening session unless you are a treble head.
Then on the brilliance section, seemingly that it is evident that it has a modest airy extension with less intensity on its sparkle. The cymbal strike sounds rather a bit soughing while the hi-hats sound dark and dull.
SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING & OTHER TECHNICALITIES:
On how I perceived its soundstage’s width, height and depth within my aural sphere, it is pretty average in terms of dimension size as it has a median lateral span, decent height reach and good depth as it gave me that intimate head room. As for its imaging aspect, it presents a relatively linear two-dimensional stereo presentation in a less layered soundscape but it appears that its separation is fairly decent in which I was able to pan out the certain positioning of instruments and vocals.
The coherent performance of its driver seems adequately good as it manages to deliver a fast transient response particularly on the bass. On its resolution capabilities, while it has good macro-dynamics as it was able to highlight the varying degree of loudness on both instruments and vocal notes but its micro-detail is rather a bit less impressive on revealing some nuances, grains and subtleties from the sonic background as it is a bit blunted in my liking as I love technical intricacies and complexities of notes in my listening session.
PEER COMPARISONS:
KZ EDC PRO
- It has a single dynamic driver set up and it was also encapsulated in a polycarbonate plastic shell chassis.
- It offers a bit better isolation as it rests well to our ears due to its more ergonomic design.
- Like the NX2, it also has barebone accessories included.
- This one has V-shaped sound profile as it has a punchy and more rumbly bass response, a recessed midrange but it has an ample warmth and a bit more energetic sound on some vocal types and instruments and a bright and shimmering treble response albeit it tends to sound a bit piercing and shrill on some tracks.
- The technical performance is pretty average just like the NX2 but it has a bit improved micro-dynamics that it sounds more resolving.
7HZ AERO
- This one also has a single dynamic driver configuration that was encased in a polycarbonate plastic shell but with a different design as this one takes a teardrop shape.
- It doesn't have a detachable cable feature but rather a fixed one.
- It also has pretty basic inclusions just like the NX2.
- Surprisingly, this one has a well-done tuning as it has a U-shaped sound profile with a balanced-warmish tonality as it has punchy yet cleaner bass response, less recessed and well-texture and clear midrange presentation, and a smooth and lustre treble response.
- On its technical performance, it has an above-average head stage, a bit better on layering and separation on its concave-like stereo imaging and a bit better on micro-detail retrieval.
KZ MERGA
- While it also has a dynamic driver that is also encased in a polycarbonate shell chassis, KZ implemented not just one but two dynamic drivers of different sizes inside.
- This one has a detachable cable with a QDC-type 2-pin connector with a better shell design as it offers better passive noise isolation.
- Like all sets in the same price range segment, this one also has a meagre amount of accessories.
- It has a V-shaped sound profile as it has a bit tighter and incisive bass response, a recessed, less warmer but gleaming midrange presentation and brighter, vibrant and a moderately airy treble response.
- On its technical capabilities, while it has an above average sound/speaker stage, its perceived depth is rather distant and shallow with less solidity on its macro-dynamics.
Here are my take away points about this product, while there are still need some improvements especially on how it was tuned but for its asking price, this one is a good recommendation for a casual audio lover who is looking for a cheap and very affordable set with a passable tonal performance enough to enjoy some beats and rhythm. The ND NX2 is now available and I will provide some links if you are from the Southeast Asia region.
SHOPEE LINK:
XLTRADE
WULAODA
FEIGUAUDIO
SPECIFICATION:
MODEL: APEVOIX GRIT
IMPEDANCE: 16Ω
SENSITIVITY: 107dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 20KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2m
PIN TYPE: 0.78 2-PIN CONNECTOR
PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm
DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER, (1) BONE CONDUCTION DRIVER , (4) BALANCED ARMATURE DRIVER(S)
TRACKS TESTED: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)
Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *
Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **
Mountain - Mississippi Queen *
Queen - Killer Queen **
Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'
Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'
Pearl Jam - Daughter **
Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *
Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*
Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *
New Order - Blue Monday *
The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *
The Madness- Buggy Trousers *
Metallica - Motorbreath **
Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *
Destiny's Child - Say My Name *
Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *
Mozart - Lacrimosa *
New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*
Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *
Exciter - Violence and Force *
Diana Krall - Stop This World **
Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*
The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
Lauren Christy – Steep *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*
Type O Negative - Black No.1 *
Felix Ayo - Vivaldi: Presto **
Three Tenors - Nessum Dorma *
Mercyful Fate - Witches' Dance *
P.S.
I am not affiliated to ND AUDIO nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.
Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to ND AUDIO of providing this review unit. I truly appreciate their generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.
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