ND DD3
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ND DD3: the switch trend...
Intro
ND is a brand that is new to the market, and one of its first models was introduced a few months ago, following the trend of configurations with different signatures using switches. The ND DD3 is available for around $19 USD. Join me to see how ND's debut in the world of IEMs turned out.
If you wish to read this review in Spanish, click here
Check out previous reviews here (or in spanish here)
Disclaimers:
Unboxing, Build & Comfort
ND DD3: First and foremost, the DD3 is a massive IEM in comparison to IEMs like the Kiwi Ears Cadenza or Moondrop CHU; it almost looks like a prototype of an IEM. The housing of these earphones is made of blue resin in my case, along with a faceplate made of an aluminum alloy. The latter comes in two different colors: blue and black. The overall design looks cheap compared to other earphones in this price range. It features a 10mm dynamic driver with a dual magnetic cavity and a diaphragm composed of crystalline polymers. Its connectors on the top are of the QDC type. Its nozzle measures approximately 5.8mm.
Cable: I consider it to be one of the best cables I've tried in earphones under $20 USD. It is silver-plated copper cable, with a straight 3.5mm termination, very pliable, and with little "memory", so it won't tangle when you store it.
Eartips: 6 pairs of silicone tips, 3 pairs in black and 3 in white. There's little difference between them; in fact, when placed side by side, their bores don't seem to change in size, both with standard or balanced bores. The black tips are slightly firmer in my opinion. They're okay for the price.
Pouch: a nice addition. It's made of fabric with the brand's inscriptions and is large enough to carry the IEMs along with a small dongle.
Comfort: despite my earlier mention that they are large, I didn't find them uncomfortable at any point because they are lightweight for their size. Their dimensions bother me more in the sense that they protrude quite a bit, but it's not an issue when using them while seated. The white silicone tips provide a surprisingly good seal and are effective at isolating external noises to an acceptable degree.
Driveability: a smartphone is sufficient to drive them. I used my most powerful amplifier (iFi AIR Zen CAN) and didn't notice any difference in their performance.
Sound Description
By offering 4 different sound signatures, my sound description won't be the same as usual. Instead, I'm going to share my opinions on each configuration after listening to songs from the following albums:
The switches have two positions: "ON" (upward) represented by the letter "U", and "OFF" (downward) represented by the letter "D".
Configurations
Mode 1: Powerful Low Frequencies (UDD) – Mode 2: Vibrant High Frequencies (DUD) - Mode 3: Natural Balance (UUD) - Mode 4: Enhanced Low Frequencies (DDU)
Soundstage & Imaging
With the first switch in the "U" position, the imaging isn't bad, but it's affected by the scene becoming compact, even though the entire band may sound distant from our head. On the other hand, configurations with the first switch in the "D" position manage to provide greater spaciousness to the music. I find a more open scene in "Run to the Hills", allowing me to notice greater separation between the two guitarists. Depth is not a strong point in any of the configurations; it's just slightly noticeable that the drums are set a bit back compared to the rest of the ensemble in the mentioned song.
vs. 7Hz Salnotes Zero
Without the need to compare them to other IEMs, I've already determined my rating for this set. However, in order for other users to get a better idea of how these sound, I compared the ND DD3 in its Enhanced Low Frequencies config (DDU) against the 7Hz Salnotes Zero, as it is often sold at a similar price and, in this configuration, their signatures are similar.
Credits: Ian Fann
Observations:
Conclusion
The rating is 3 stars, but honestly, I cannot recommend it, given the fierce competition in this price segment close to $20 USD. My main justification: it offers 4 signatures, 2 of which I can’t recommended at all, making it senseless to buy an IEM with switches. For its 2 acceptable signatures, there are already other IEMs that provide a similar or better experience with a similar tuning without the need for switches.
Hopefully, ND can focus on a specific signature and work from there to achieve good results, as the rest of the "complementary" elements (cable, eartips, accessories) felt of better quality than average.
Intro
ND is a brand that is new to the market, and one of its first models was introduced a few months ago, following the trend of configurations with different signatures using switches. The ND DD3 is available for around $19 USD. Join me to see how ND's debut in the world of IEMs turned out.
If you wish to read this review in Spanish, click here
Check out previous reviews here (or in spanish here)
Disclaimers:
- I would like to thank the folks at Keephifi for providing me with this set for an honest review. You can find the ND DD3 here: https://keephifi.com/products/nd-dd3-hifi-in-ear-monitor-earphone
- Analysis over 4 days - sessions of approximately 2 to 4 hours
- All music is lossless (Qobuz > 16-bit - 44.1kHz)
- Gear Used: IFI Zen Air Can (AMP) + Fiio E10K (DAC) / Samsung A50 (3.5mm Jack output)
Unboxing, Build & Comfort
ND DD3: First and foremost, the DD3 is a massive IEM in comparison to IEMs like the Kiwi Ears Cadenza or Moondrop CHU; it almost looks like a prototype of an IEM. The housing of these earphones is made of blue resin in my case, along with a faceplate made of an aluminum alloy. The latter comes in two different colors: blue and black. The overall design looks cheap compared to other earphones in this price range. It features a 10mm dynamic driver with a dual magnetic cavity and a diaphragm composed of crystalline polymers. Its connectors on the top are of the QDC type. Its nozzle measures approximately 5.8mm.
Cable: I consider it to be one of the best cables I've tried in earphones under $20 USD. It is silver-plated copper cable, with a straight 3.5mm termination, very pliable, and with little "memory", so it won't tangle when you store it.
Eartips: 6 pairs of silicone tips, 3 pairs in black and 3 in white. There's little difference between them; in fact, when placed side by side, their bores don't seem to change in size, both with standard or balanced bores. The black tips are slightly firmer in my opinion. They're okay for the price.
Pouch: a nice addition. It's made of fabric with the brand's inscriptions and is large enough to carry the IEMs along with a small dongle.
Comfort: despite my earlier mention that they are large, I didn't find them uncomfortable at any point because they are lightweight for their size. Their dimensions bother me more in the sense that they protrude quite a bit, but it's not an issue when using them while seated. The white silicone tips provide a surprisingly good seal and are effective at isolating external noises to an acceptable degree.
Driveability: a smartphone is sufficient to drive them. I used my most powerful amplifier (iFi AIR Zen CAN) and didn't notice any difference in their performance.
Sound Description
By offering 4 different sound signatures, my sound description won't be the same as usual. Instead, I'm going to share my opinions on each configuration after listening to songs from the following albums:
- “25” - Adele
- “Back To Black” - Amy Winehouse
- “Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 - The Creatures of Prometheus” - Freiburger Barockorchester, Gottfried von der Goltz
- “Happier Than Ever (Explicit)” - Billie Eilish
- “New York” - Frank Sinatra
- “Pavarotti 24 Greatest HD Tracks” - Luciano Pavarotti
- “The Number of the Beast (2015 Remaster)” - Iron Maiden
- “Survive” - Stratovarius
The switches have two positions: "ON" (upward) represented by the letter "U", and "OFF" (downward) represented by the letter "D".
Configurations
Mode 1: Powerful Low Frequencies (UDD) – Mode 2: Vibrant High Frequencies (DUD) - Mode 3: Natural Balance (UUD) - Mode 4: Enhanced Low Frequencies (DDU)
- Natural Balance (UUD): Depending on the album, the set of instruments (regardless of their range) may sound very distant, as if you were kilometers away from the band in all respects. The bass lacks impact and becomes dull at low volume levels, with poor differentiation between bass and subbass, which improves at intermediate and high levels but still doesn't let the user distinguish between the two bass spectrums correctly. The only remarkable aspect of this mode is the vocals, which maintain good authority in the signature, where female vocals are more intimate and stand out more than male ones. Also, electric guitars and violins perform well but not much more. The worst part is the reproduction of any kind of cymbal or bell, which feels too muted, with zero detail perceived in the high range.
- Powerful Low Frequencies (UDD): According to ND's measurements, the enhancement of the bass in this signature is achieved by attenuating the upper mids and high frequencies. Similar to the Natural Balance, the bands can sound distant, but here, this happened in most of the songs I listened to. This is the tuning I liked the least; the only positive aspect I can highlight is that it achieved better differentiation between the bass and subbass frequencies compared to the previous signature. However, it's the signature with the least detail, and songs with prominent bass completely overshadow the rest of the spectrum. In those where the low registers are almost nonexistent, the mid and high ranges also lack liveliness, particularly the cymbals sound funereal.
- Enhanced Low Frequencies (DDU): The first tuning I would recommend with a slight focus on the bass but avoids being too intrusive for the rest of the frequencies. The differentiation between bass and subbass remains similar to UDD, although I find a bit more detail in these two mentioned ranges, making this signature decent in this aspect. Voices of both genders are well represented and appear as the most prominent sound in the midrange. Compared to UUD, string instruments lost some sparkle and detail, but overall, pianos, strings, toms (drums), and winds are reproduced naturally and provide a good sense of musicality. Lastly, like all the previous signatures, the attenuation when playing cymbals or bells is quick, meaning there isn't much detail to be found, and this frequency is the one that sounds the most muted.
- Vibrant High Frequencies (DUD): The configuration with the least amount of subbass, focusing more on the impact of the bass in the lower part of the spectrum, which is still at most moderate in intensity (quality of both is the same as DDU). This is the other signature I would recommend, and surprisingly, it allows for slightly greater clarity from most instruments compared to DDU. The sound of some instruments like flutes and oboes is extremely similar, but electric guitars and pianos stood out as they gained a more prominent role in the mix. Vocals are somewhat more vivid than in DDU. Notable in this signature were the treble frequencies that finally managed to be reproduced decently by having a bit more air than the rest of the configurations, avoiding the abrupt drop in the reproduction of cymbals and bells.
Soundstage & Imaging
With the first switch in the "U" position, the imaging isn't bad, but it's affected by the scene becoming compact, even though the entire band may sound distant from our head. On the other hand, configurations with the first switch in the "D" position manage to provide greater spaciousness to the music. I find a more open scene in "Run to the Hills", allowing me to notice greater separation between the two guitarists. Depth is not a strong point in any of the configurations; it's just slightly noticeable that the drums are set a bit back compared to the rest of the ensemble in the mentioned song.
vs. 7Hz Salnotes Zero
Without the need to compare them to other IEMs, I've already determined my rating for this set. However, in order for other users to get a better idea of how these sound, I compared the ND DD3 in its Enhanced Low Frequencies config (DDU) against the 7Hz Salnotes Zero, as it is often sold at a similar price and, in this configuration, their signatures are similar.
Credits: Ian Fann
Observations:
- The subbass of these models are on par, although the DD3s do a slightly better job in the bass region, providing greater impact in their reproduction.
- It's truly surprising how, switching to another IEM model, the mids open up. Making A/B comparisons between these two sets, the difference in the midrange is staggering. Vocals and instruments are much clearer in the Zero, thanks to their significantly less intrusive bass. Despite this, the DD3 has the virtue of making both male and female vocals stand out a bit more in comparison. When it comes to details and naturalness, the Zero also takes the lead.
- In the treble, they are two different worlds because the Zero truly achieves a proper and appreciable extension in this frequency. As a result, details are more easily perceptible, and at the same time, cymbal execution sounds more enjoyable due to the slower decay of these notes. The Zeros can be somewhat more fatiguing for the same reason.
- In my opinion, the imaging of both is only decent for the price, although the Zero has considerable depth in comparison, making live performances more enjoyable.
Conclusion
The rating is 3 stars, but honestly, I cannot recommend it, given the fierce competition in this price segment close to $20 USD. My main justification: it offers 4 signatures, 2 of which I can’t recommended at all, making it senseless to buy an IEM with switches. For its 2 acceptable signatures, there are already other IEMs that provide a similar or better experience with a similar tuning without the need for switches.
Hopefully, ND can focus on a specific signature and work from there to achieve good results, as the rest of the "complementary" elements (cable, eartips, accessories) felt of better quality than average.
Attachments
It is the first that I've heard of this Chi-Fi company and this is definitely the first that I am going to review their products. Keephifi has sent me the ND DD3 to seek my opinion on this earphone.
DISCLAIMER:
- I have no affiliation with ND and have not received any monetary compensation during or after writing this review. Keephifi provided this unit to me in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
- As a non-professional reviewer, I aim to use simple terms that can be understood by both beginners and experts in the hobby.
- Please keep in mind that the opinions expressed in this review are subjective and based on my personal experience with the unit. I encourage you to try the product yourself to form your own opinion.
PACKAGING
The packaging is mostly basic with a pouch, set of eartips, the cables and the IEMs itself. I won't write too much on this one. What you see on the picture is what you get.
BUILD QUALITY
The construction of the ND DD3 mirrors the typical quality found in most budget Chi-Fi IEMs. It features a blend of materials: a metal faceplate with a matte finish, coupled with a resin build for the rest of the shell. The connectors employ a QDC type connection, which is unsurprising given its prevalence as a standard connection in the realm of budget Chi-Fi. Generally, I appreciate the color scheme, with the exception of the rather obnoxious guitar design that unfortunately detracts from the overall aesthetic appeal of the product.SOUND
 |
| ND DD3 tuning switches |
The ND DD3 features a tuning switch which doesn't feel that much of a difference in terms of sound. Out of the box, the ND DD3 presents a V-shaped sound signature as its default audio profile.
BASS
The bass carries considerable weight, particularly in the sub-bass region, delivering deeply satisfying rumbles. However, it lacks a bit of mid-bass punch, which results in a less defined and resolving bass impact. In certain tuning configurations, it can become quite muddy. Turning the switch "down" on the "ON" label somewhat fixes the muddiness in the bass, although the improvements are hardly discernible.
MIDS
Straight out of the box, the midrange presents a recessed presentation. The timbre in this range may appear unnatural, with a distinct metallic tone in the upper midrange. While vocals are placed more prominently, they may not sound entirely natural and can occasionally overshadow the instruments.
HIGHS
Although the treble region occasionally exhibits a metallic and unnatural quality, it can be tolerable on certain occasions. When the "ON" switch is off, the treble offers sufficient energy to bring cymbal splashes, piano keys, and saxophone to life, infusing them with a sense of vibrancy. However, with the "ON" switch on treble extension may recede somewhat, trading off some treble quality to accommodate the lower frequencies.
TECHNICALITIES
The soundstage and imaging are rather unremarkable, lacking any standout qualities. The soundstage can occasionally feel somewhat constricted and lacks a sense of expansiveness. While imaging can be decent, it faces challenges with complex tracks, making it difficult to discern micro-details. However, it's important to keep in mind that these are budget earphones, and such limitations are to be expected.
Here are my observations regarding the switches, although it's possible that you may not discern any differences. Upon critical listening, here are the outcomes I've noticed. Please keep in mind that these observations are based solely on my own perception. Ideally, there will be more comprehensive resources, like squigs, available in the future for a more technical and precise reference.
With the "ON" switch on/up:
- Low-res.
- More focused on the lows.
- Mids can sound boxy.
- Lacking treble presence.
- Compressed soundstage.
- Dark sounding
- Elevated bass and forward mids with weak treble presence
- Almost the same as UUU but the midrange is more recessed.
- Bass is lighter.
- Recessed mids with boxy vocals.
- Treble sounds muted.
- Probably the worst configuration in my opinion.
- Has more balance.
- Treble has more presence.
- bass is more balanced.
- mids are much defined despite having a recessed quality compared to when the switch is on
- The most balanced configuration.
- higher frequencies are emphasized.
- a bit better soundstage.
CONCLUSION
Pros
- Fun and lively sound.
- Nice color scheme.
- Good package inclusions but the pouch can be less effective when protecting the IEM.
- Good bass weight.
- Treble is lively.
- Cheap.
- Upper frequencies can sound unnatural.
- Switches are gimmicky.
- Vocals can sound unnatural and boxy at times.
- Average technicalities.
It may be premature for me to make a definitive judgment on ND's potential, but my initial impression of their DD3 model hasn't convinced me that this company is poised for significant growth. However, I'm open to the possibility that they could improve over time. At best, I foresee ND becoming a dark horse contender, akin to Lafitear and CVJ.
While the ND DD3 doesn't stand out as an exceptional earphone, it does provide an enjoyable and lively listening experience for casual users. Aesthetically, I appreciate the earphones' overall color scheme, certain design elements, like the random guitar in the middle, should be reconsidered for their upcoming product lines since I find it distasteful and random, I might even try to scratch out the guitar design once I'm done with this review. It somewhat reminds me of the TFZ S2 Pro with its random teddy bear design and the letter "T." As for the tuning switches, it is another gimmicky feature that bears no significant changes to the sound unless you critically perceive it. Overall, a budget earphone is a budget earphone, you basically get what you pay for with no exceptional experiences, the ND DD3 is one example.
