NiceHCK EZAudio D4

Hello everyone!
After speaking a bit with Jim NiceHCK i said i was a reviewer and he sent me a sample of the EZ Audio D4 with a huge discount.



I'm really happy to review this product as this was greatly reviewed on the web and i would like to remind everone that you can buy this product from the NiceHCK shop at the link below:
https://it.aliexpress.com/item/2018-Nuovo-NICEHCK-EZAUDIO-D4-In-Trasduttore-Auricolare-Dell-orecchio-10mm-Titanizing-Unit-Diaframma-Dinamico-HIFI/32934835750.html?spm=a2g0y.search0104.3.3.73ed4c0bkcv39a&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_10_10065_10068_319_317_10696_10084_453_10083_454_10618_10304_10307_10820_10821_537_10302_536_10902_10843_10059_10884_10887_321_322_10103,searchweb201603_45,ppcSwitch_0&algo_pvid=d4714201-aacc-471d-807c-aeeb78d6b979&algo_expid=d4714201-aacc-471d-807c-aeeb78d6b979-0

This link is by no way connected with me, it's just the link of the product in the NiceHCK store on Aliexpress.
I would like to remember that my impressions, as i've already said in other situations, are subjective and that listening experience can vary depending on our ears, our ear canal's shapes, the tips we use, the source we use and so on.

Tests were made by:
- Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, with Neutron Music Player and Neutralizer
- AGPTEK m20 (Benjie S5)
- Presonus Audiobox iONE connected to my pc (without any kind of enhancement)
Specs:
Drivers: 1 single 10mm titanium DD
Sensitivity: 99db
Impedance: 32ohm
Frequency response: 20-20000Hz
Cable Lenght: 1.2m
3.5mm Jack connection with L-type Plug
Cable has in-line mic
Colors avaiable: Purple and Silver

PACKAGING
Product comes in a simple carton package in which we find a carry case for the headphones.
As soon as we open the carry case, we can see the headphones, 3 pairs of tips, one "keychain hook".



CABLE
Cable is braided and feels very nice while touching it. Tangling will not be a nightmare as this cable is not prone to tangle.
A chin slider is present. Microphone is ok. The cable ends with a gold plated L-Plug 3.5mm jack.



BUILD QUALITY AND INTERNALS
The headphones are made of metal and feature a minimalistic design that shouldn't trick you about the quality.
There are 2 vents: 1 near the nozzle (to prevent the driver flex) and 1 in the backside of the shell (which should give "air" to the DD).
Internally a good 10mm titanium dynamic driver is the one that has been chosen to make these little beasts rock.
The nozzle features the usual metal grill which prevents earwax to go into the nozzle.



COMFORT AND ISOLATION
The simple and minimal design makes the fitting easy: there are no problems wearing these with the cable that goes down straight even because they are pretty lightweight.
Tips are subjective so comfort is even based on the tips you're gonna choose. Isolation is average.



SOUND
I mostly listen to EDM and subgenres with preferences on Dubstep, Future Bass, Dark downtempo, Midtempo, Bass house, DnB, Hardstyle, Psy and so on.
I even listen to many vocal oriented tracks moreover if singed by female voices.
Low end is really important to me: i always search for V-shaped sound with clear mids and good soundstage.

Lows: surprising. Sub-bass has good extension and can produce a good rumble. Not at ZS7's level but this microdriver is really impressive.
Kicks are fast with good decay, i didn't expect good thing about this but i have to ask being forgiven. I think these sound way better than my old Memt x5 in this region.
Bass is not boomy and they sound full with good body, without being intrusive in the mid region.
KZ EDR1 has a better sub-bass extension while i find the bass to be better on these D4.
This isn't certainly a strong basshead IEM but can really be enjoyable by everyone with a deep, precise and well extended low end.

Mids: V signature is obvious here. Vocals sound a bit distant but keep their natural timbre.
Sometimes they sound a little bit on the cold side, maybe because of the lower mids sounding with less warmth than i expected. Products in this price range are usually very warm. That can be a good thing though, considering i feel they're more analitic than the EDR1 and ED9.

Highs: treble emphasis is concentrated on the upper treble with a high roll-off. Highs are not fatiguing but they keep a good level of detail. Lower treble is smoother than i expected without any kind of earcutting peak, no sibilance is detected apart from some tracks that are very prone to sibilance.
Soundstage is above average with good depth and width. Height is average. Imaging is really good and instrument separation is great if we consider the price of these, even listening tracks which feature multiple instrument layers.
These are the things that make this earphones astonishing for their price.
I didn't try them with an amp so i can't say if they improve or not.

SUMMARY
NiceHCK is offering a very interesting product in the ultra budget segment that is well built, lightweight and aesthetically difficult to hate.
The EZ Audio D4 really have to be considered if you want a great product without breaking the bank, and you really get something that is worth 3x times the price you pay for these.
We're speaking about a pair of IEMs that cover really well the entire frequency spectrum without any problem that can easily give fun at a very low price.
If i didn't know the price of these and someone has told me to try them, i'm sure i would have said these were at least easily 30$ worth.
Thank you NiceHCK for the test sample!

Ezaudio D4 Review :

SOUND:8/10
CONSTRUCTION:8/10
PRICE VALUE:9/10



Ezaudio D4 is a new comer in budget family and already have good reception among music enthusiast. In a overcrowded chi-fi iem market are they worth a hype? Well, if you can AMP them properly I will say yes, if you can’t they will not be as impressive. Let’s see why.



Disclaimer : You will know it when I have discount or (extremely rarely) free product in exchange of review, so another time, I pay for this IEM because i’m not that much of a cheap ass, I mean, at 11/11 they cost me around 8$ so yeah, even if they aren’t as much as a bargain as let’s say the incredible NiceHCK EP10, I consider these a good buy. The point is : I choose the products I want to review, no compromise about this, no BS either.





CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN :



With a light alluminium housing design take from Nuforce N700 iem, the D4 neither look fancy or cheap, but have an elegant low profil that hide a beautifull dynamic driver in it.



Cable isn’t bad as I like the nylon part wich I would have love it to be used for whole cable because the other ribbon part look cheaper and can create microphonic, wich is a serious drawback. L jack is a nice idea too.



About design, as the housing is very light, its a comfortable IEM that we wear the classic way, you can try wearing it over ear too to avoid some microphonic but it isn’t thinked for that style.



SOUND :



Gear used :

Ibasso DX90

Xduoo X20

Xduoo X3

Both Xduoo being amped with Xduoo XD-05 for better result.



About amping : I rarely use amp for IEM and must admit that i’m surprise that I need to use one with a 32ohm iem that have 99db of sp. But i’ m certain it expand soundstage and clarify instrument separation, so once I conclude this its hard to go back. Ibasso DX90 at high gain do not really need amping tough.



SOUNDSIGNATURE is near neutral with hint of brightness in mids and extra push in upper treble. This is a mature audiophile sounding IEM for such a tiny price that can be an all arounder because even if not bassy it still have enough punch to give energy to beat driven track. For me, this a a well made bright sound that do not feel to agressive even if very fowards in its presentation.




SOUNDSTAGE isn't very big and is wider than deeper and can offer above average positioning of instrument, especially in this price range.



BASS do not go extra deep and lack in sub region but offer good mid bass punch and enough textured to feel realist. Still, it lack a little roundness and weight but offer a quite fast and tigh presentation. It do not bleed in mids section and using right tips is important to help the bass come alive.



MIDS are fowards and slightly bright, but do not create particularly invasive sibilance or displeasant texture. Vocal have good presence and texture and do not feel bloated or recessed, for example in Happy Rhodes song ‘’For we beleive’’ we can easily hear the back up vocal that stay in background while front vocal feel more immersive and wider, even if a little bright, it do not feel shouty and give a good musical presentation with the very clear classical guitar that accopany her. As well, for solo violon album of Hilary Hahn playing Bach sonata, it is a very enjoyable realist presentation with lot of space surrounding her solo playing, violin being well detailed and having great dynamic and tigh but impactfull decay, this is a very impressive full medium frequencies response treat.



HIGHS are quite present without being very sharp most of time, and perhaps being over shadowed by more present upper mids as we can hear the percussion but not in an extra clear way when instrumental is very crowded. It isn’t very sparkly highs, and layering being just average it do not help background percussions or details to feel alive. Still, it do not feel as having a treble roll off, because upper treble is quite clear and lively, wich mean you got plenty of microdetails for such a cheap iem.






COMPARAISONS :


VS SUPERLUX HD381 : These are IMO one of the best value IEM in sub20$ price range and shamefully underated, so its no surprise that the D4 sound inferior in every level, especially in soundstage and 3D feel and bass, wich is weightier and go deeper. HD381 feel more airier while D4 feel congested and too foward. Mids of D4 are more fowards but less airy, and overall signature more linear than the HD381, as well, D4 is more detailed but with a more grainy treble than HD381. Construction of D4 is way bettet than very cheap one of HD381.


VS KZ ED4 : Another time, it put to shame the little soundstage of D4 and offer more bass, but not in a very detailed way, more the sloppy type wich isnt a plus. ED4 is way warmer but offer better instrument placement that surround your head and feel more immersive, this is a big drawback of D4, it is too fowards as if music is in a hurry to present itself to you. Mids of ED4, even with bass bleed, feel wider, but they lack detail. High of D4 are more present and offer way more details.



CONCLUSION :

Ezaudio D4 are sure not for everyone and its hard to suggest them easily because of a quite fowards treble that can be a drawback for some laid back music lover. Still, to have this level of details rendering as well as a near neutral soundsignature that have enough mid bass punch to give a dynamic presentation and that for 10 little dollars, I think its a great buy for iem collector leaning towards audiophile sound but less so for people searching for a bassy all arounder or suffering of treble sensitivity. Personally, I know I will not use these often, even if I admit I am impress by the maturity of its agile soundsignature.

INTRO
EZAUDIO was not yet known to me and so I was curious what to expect for the price of almost 10€.
I was more than surprised. The D4 is an in-ear with a dynamic 10mm driver and a classic design. What comes out of the small, inexpensive earphones is looking for in the price class of its equal. A clear purchase recommendation right from the start!

HANDLING
The D4 is made of metal and does not strive for a particularly innovative design. It is simple but ergonomic. The cables from the Y-split are a bit annoying because they look cheap. From the Y-split to the plug, they are still wrapped in fabric, but then you simply become hard rubber cables that knot easily.
The remote does what it's supposed to do and has good speech intelligibility.

Included in the package are different silicone tips and a carrying box, which is very valuable. Another positive aspect is the isolation of the outside world, especially with foam tips.

SOUNDS
The D4 simply doesn't sound like an in-ear in the 10€ class, but easily keeps up with headphones up to 50€. This is really a pleasant surprise and an exemplary example of what Chi-Fi is capable of.

The bass is more prominent in the mid-range and brings across the demands of all genres well and precisely, without exaggerating. This has to be pointed out here, as the bass is boosted unbearably by the cheap in-ears and thus becomes spongy, as well as making the whole sound very dark.
Not so with the D4. Although the bass is a bit in the foreground, it doesn't cover the midrange or treble. If you want to achieve even more pressure and punch in the sub-bass range, simply push the silicon/foam tips a little more onto the nozzle to cover the air vents. With this mod even bassheads can have their joy.

In contrast to the higher ones, the lower mids are somewhat reduced, which makes lower voices sound slightly more distant and gives the whole thing a cooler timbre (changes slightly with the bass mod, which also works very well with the TIN AUDIO T2).
The mids are detailed and don't smear even on more demanding tracks. Guitars are crisp and the separation works best.

The treble has no peaks and can score with clarity and three-dimensionality. Sure, they don't play up to the very high regions, but far enough to offer a pleasant airiness and to display micro details well. They are also quite linear in frequency response.
This is rounded off by a nice wide stage, which doesn't have to hide in the depth, especially for the price. One should only know that they need a little more power due to the high resistance.

OUTRO
It's amazing how natural and balanced the D4 sound, compared to other in-ear to 10€.
The bass is not overemphasized, the mids don't drop too much despite the V-signature, seem natural and the treble can convince with its airiness.
From a musical point of view, this is a much more expensive in-ear.
Only the cable is a small drop of bitterness. It only helps to buy them until someone realizes that they are much too cheap for what they can do!

BUY HERE: NICEHCK STORE
_____________________________________________________________
More reviews: https://david-hahn.wixsite.com/chi-fiear
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CHIFIEAR/

Presentation and personal preferences

I've been an electronic technical engineer for 20 years. I studied that career because my great passion was Hi-Fi. But for more than 15 years I have been working as a programmer of production control systems based on artificial vision.

The sound profile I like could be represented as ¬. I like bass (the sub bass above all), forward voices and soft trebles, but that provide a lot of clarity, separation and detail. I like the natural sound, full of air and nuances, as well as enjoying a great stage and three-dimensional recreation. I prefer the warm profile to V-profiles or mid-centric. And I run away from brilliant profiles.

Disclaimer

The AliExpress NiceHCK store, represented by Jim, offered me this IEM model with a big discount, in exchange for writing an honest review. I want to make it clear that all my opinions written in this review have not been conditioned by this fact, nor will I ever write anything that I do not really think or feel here. I will only write about my personal opinion in relation to the revised product.

Purchase link:

https://es.aliexpress.com/store/product/2018-New-NICEHCK-EZAUDIO-D4-In-Ear-Earphone-10mm-Titanizing-Diaphragm-Dynamic-Unit-HIFI-Metal-Earphone/1825606_32934835750.html

Link to the Store:

https://es.aliexpress.com/store/1825606

Specifications:

• Driver Type: 10mm Dynamic Driver with titanium diaphragm
• Frequency response: 20-20000Hz
• Sensitivity: 99dB / mW
• Impedance: 32 Ω
• Jack connector: 3.5mm
• Cable length: 1.2m
• Microphone

Packaging

The D4 comes in a white cardboard box with the brand logo on the front. On the back are the specifications with Chinese legends. Inside is a zippered case identical to other NiceHCK products, but with the EZAudio logo. Once opened you can find the IEMs tied with a velcro tape, 6 S-M-L tips and a small carabiner.

The tips are made of black silicone with a wide diameter at the top.

The content and presentation is almost the minimum required.

Construction and design

The design of the IEMs is the typical lightweight metal cylinder, but small in diameter and length. A plastic ring surrounds the IEM and also serves as a cable connection protector. The nozzles are short, have a metal grille and a hole in the base. There is also another hole in the back of the IEMs.



The cable to the splitter is covered with a cloth mesh, I like this kind of detail in cheap headphones because it gives them more wear resistance. On the other hand when splitting the cable is only coated with plastic and not excessively thick. Here is the weak point of these IEMs on a constructive level. In addition, on the right-hand cable, there is the button-free microphone.

The 3.5mm jack plug is L-shaped, small, functional and rigid enough.

According to the specifications the dynamic driver used is 10mm with titanium diagram.

Overall the D4, beyond its price, do not surprise or stand out in this section.



Adjustment and ergonomics

They are surface insertion IEMs, with the right eartips they fit quite well and do not move. Once they are in place, they are not very noticeable and it is remarkable how little weight they have. In my case, the stock eartips are useless to me at all, neither for fitting nor for sound. I have a quite wide channel and I use L size eartips filled with foam, made by me. With these eartips I get the right fit. I don't need to readjust the IEMs over time. I consider the D4 to be suitable for long listening.

Using my hybrid eartips with a flexible inner diameter, I can push them against the base of the cylinder, covering the existing hole at the foot of the nozzles. In this way, you get an enhancement in the bass, something totally necessary to satisfy my personal preferences. The negative point is the undesired Driver Flex effect, whose frequency is higher than desired, as it is very common to happen when I fit the D4.

Sound

The following analysis has been performed using my hybrid eartips, with the base hole of the nozzle covered (Bass-mod).

Personally, after a lot of IEMs behind me, I'm running away more and more from V-profiles. But it is true that it is difficult to escape the market tendency.

Profile

The D4s have a mid-high enhancement. With the bass-mod, more presence is achieved in the lower zone, getting a cold trend V profile.

Bass

Bass-mod, in my opinion, enhances the sub-bass part more than the bass. From 40Hz the sound has a very good impact, texture and depth. The bass is fast and gives a thin feeling, but this detail benefits their precision. Still the bass range has a fairly complete presence.

Mids

I find the lower mids sunk, far away. This is the negative point of the D4, their V-profile makes this area is under represented, somewhat hollow. This is where the mids balance is lost. Even so, there is good clarity in this segment. Male voices sound natural, but far away, without too many nuances or too much joy.

From there, an increase in gain begins, reaching its high point at the higher mids limit. This is the peak of the V, the most emphasized range that defines the sound of the D4, dragging the mids towards the cold side, somewhat analytical and a bit hard. That's what female voices sound like. In spite of everything I could say that the D4 keep the wheezings in the limit of what is allowed, controlling the excess to gain in clarity. And they do it, turning what could be their Achilles heel into their best virtue.

Treble

For the benefit of control the treble is softened in presence and enhanced a little more beyond to gain some air.

Scene, soundstage

The virtue of the D4 is its clarity; the sound is precise although almost more by omission than by separation, because I don't find that the scene is very wide. Rather it is a well-focused sound, crisp, clean, but without going into much detail or nuance.



Comparisons

Rock Zircon

Rock Zircon are one of the classic kings of the cheap IEMs, which overcame the barrier of the typical V-headphones to offer more than bass. And hell, they did. In my opinion Zircon was the rival to beat and even now they still have something to say.

Especially on bass, this is where I wonder if the D4s with Bass-Mod are really V-IEMs, or just higher mids emphasized IEMs, with a good bass response. The Zircon are a bass cannon, there is almost nothing to do in this sense against them in this segment that I have in my possession. Of course, the basses in the Zircons are thick, wide, meddle in the mids and flood the sound. While the lows of the D4 remain deep, less present, thinner but not blended in the voices. The Zircon are warm and the D4 are cooler and this is totally valid for the mids too. The Zircons, coming from a bass mountain, don't have the lower mids as far away as the D4s, but they have a more pronounced valley around 1kHz. This is where the Zircons climb back up to the other V-peak, but they don't do it as much as the D4s. This has repercussions on the sound and hence the differences in the mids and voices.

The D4s have more presence at the top, starting with the higher mids. The sensation of brightness and air is greater in the D4 than in the Zircon. This gives you greater clarity, detail and precision in contrast to a certain darkness and duller sound in Zircons. Other parameters such as scene, image and recreation take advantage of this emphasis in the D4.

MEMT X5

The MEMT X5 are a tough rival, basically because their profile fits better among my preferences, being more balanced and having more emphasis on the lower mids than the upper mids.

But the D4, with the bass-mod done, seem to beat the X5 on basses. In the sub-bass is the difference, the overall perception of this segment is deeper and more pleasant. The Low-End has more body in the D4, as well as more punch. The bass is clearly rotund and complete in comparison. And although the lows of the X5 were already good, I realize the quality of the D4 in this section.

In the mid zone I have a strange feeling with the X5, while my perception of the lower mids and medium mids in them is more complete, the presentation is not as clear and clean as in the D4. But the X5s do fill that gap that I notice in the D4s. This can be clearly noticed in the female voices, in the D4 they sound very clear, but fine and incomplete.

The perception is really due to the fact that the mids of the X5s go down in gain until they reach the treble, while in the D4s they sink at the beginning to end in peak in the higher mids. Here everyone will have their preferences and hence they choose one or another model accordingly. Personally I stay in this aspect with the X5, although this area has some darkness and veil. The ideal would be to add the clarity and definition of the D4, but perhaps it is too much to ask for IEMs of this price.

The treble is different, in the D4 the higher mids is emphasized, that makes the cymbals sound more complete and with more details. While in the X5 they sound thinner but brighter due to the small emphasis they have around 7-8kHz. It is also noticeable that the treble in the X5 sounds more isolated and is perceived with greater precision. On the other hand in the D4 this zone seems smoother and is somewhat more integrated in the mids.

As for other parameters such as separation, scene, image, detail, I do not see great differences between the two beyond the profile, being very on par and within what can be expected by the price.

As a negative note on the X5, the cable is really rigid and untamed and although it is thicker, I prefer the D4 cable.

Both are comfortable IEMs although their adjustment is different in each one.

The X5s are more sensitive than the D4s.

NiceHCK EP10

At first I expected the EP10 with more bass than the D4, but in reality it is not, once applied the bass-mod. So and using my hybrid tips in both, the D4 have more presence in sub-bass, as well as more depth. So these little D4s offer a great bass response, there's no doubt about it.

In mids, things change in favor of EP10s, as they lack the feeling of sinking in the lower mids. I find the central range in the EP10 more complete, they generate more music, a fuller sound, with more nuances and details. Meanwhile, the D4 produces a rather focused, narrow, and somewhat dull midrange in comparison.

EP10s still have greater emphasis on the higher mids, and also on the lower trebles than D4s.

But the big difference between the two is the overall sound sensation: EP10s sound wider and have a larger scene and image. The musical recreation is also greater in the EP10, there is evidence of the narrower and more focused sound of the D4, on the more mature sound and higher overall quality of the EP10.

It is also true that EP10s cost almost twice as much as D4s. In this case the price does justify the quality improvement of one over the other.



Conclusion

Everyone who starts in the world of portable HiFi should listen to the D4 and from there climb up to more expensive models, which are not always better. These IEMs satisfy, as they say in my country, the three B's “bueno, bonito y barato” (good, pretty and cheap). Do they offer the best sound? I'm sure they don't, but in that price range they have a lot of battle and they're a sure value.

His response in bass is remarkable and one of the best in his range qualitatively speaking as well as in depth. The sound is quite clear and well executed. Its profile is a cold shooting V. It suffers from certain deficiencies in mids, scene and image, but the price of the product must be made clear.

They're comfortable, they're small, they fit easily, the cable isn't bad, they look durable, they have a good carrying case, and they have a microphone. What more can you ask for in price?

NiceHCK EZAudio D4.


I was forwarded a review sample of the D4 from NiceHCK for review purposes. These can be purchased here. Thanks goes out to Jim for supporting the community and more importantly supporting the hobby.


It has been a while that I have dived into the budget waters of the cheapo iem but once in a while something comes out that just rearranges your thoughts about what can be achieved in the super budget chi fi realm. I am not foreign to what the many OEMs come up with now a days but owning many so called bang for buck iems there is a certain limitation to what sound can do for a $10 IEM right?



So Jim@ NiceHCK suggested I hear the EZAudio D4. They sound really good he says. Ya right. $10 IEM that sounds really good. Where have I heard this before. Hey I am willing to give them a good listen. If they sound good why not?


As far as I know EZAudio D4 is the only product with the name of EZAudio. Might be a line of cheaper iems from a random OEM out of China. The design mimics a design the headfi community should recognize. These look and use identical materials to the oldie but goodie. NuForce NE700m. But that is where the similarities end. These are tuned differently and in fact I will argue is an actual upgrade to the old NE700m more colored tuning.



The Specs.

Driver unit: 10mm Titanizing diaphragm

Imdepance 32 Ohm

Sensitivity 99 db

Frequncy 20hz- 20khz

Plug: 1.2M 3.5 single out w mic

Color: Purple, Grey


The D4 is uses an old tried and true design in a single what is described as a 10mm Titanizing driver barel shaped earphone. I am certain they mean Titanium coated diaphragm. Which will give you a clue into what your getting here. Traditionally Titanium coated dynamic earphones have excellent clarity detail and bass. And the D4 does not change much from these aspects but at the price they can’t possibly tuned right. Right?


Well you know sometimes you get stuff that completely surprise you and then there is the D4. I know previous reviews from fellow reviewers have touched on the sheer sound value of these but I am gonna just say. These are CRAZY. And I mean CRAZY sounding for the price. These have a sound that has nothing to do with what your gonna pay for a pair. I hope during recent Aliexpress sales you got yourself a pair. These might actually sound better than your $100 earphones. And this is not an exaggeration.



They certainly look the part of a budget earphone. They don’t scream come look at me like the recent OM1 I reviewed but actually has a very basic cylindrical housing design that most will be familiar with for iems. Looks can and will be deceiving. Basic looks aside it is what is inside the housing and the sound that really matter. I have earphones that I have reviewed for NuForce with the same basic design and so how can a $10 earphone compete with earphones in the $100 range?


To me it is simple. Regardless of price or looks. These guys simply tuned these right. Does this happen on a $10 earphone?. I mean the idea of actually tuning an earphone correct even on a $10 one seems to go against normal conventions and the idea that you get what you pay for. Especially in the audio game.


The first hint of their SQ will be the drivers they are using. Titanium coated drivers are not too common especially for budget fi products. More common on earphones like the Dunu Titan 1 and the like NuForce earphones in the same shape.


On first listen they failed to really impress but the more and more I was listening to them the more I realized something. These actually had a good sound to them. In fact with a good run in and listening to them. It left me kinda speechless. There is no way I am hearing what I am hearing out of these. Never did I think these would come close to the sonics I am hearing from them today. No way. But in deed they do have an excellent sound quality to them.


Build quality is average for budget fi stuff and these aren’t gonna win any awards for build or design on them but wait till you actually hear them. Then you tell me if this is what a $10 iem is supposed to sound like.


Isolation is a bit below average but not terrible. They can be used outdoors with ease and since they have a mic on the cord you can use them with your smart phones to carry out conversations. Tested on my LG phone, vocals come out nice n clear.The braided cord does emit some microphonics but not to the point of annoyance. Worn over the ears eliminates any cord noise.


Sound of the D4 is best described as a balanced tuning leaning to a cooler side of neutral in tone. The mild bump in the upper mids lower treble region throws a sound with an unheard of clean detail in sound that is more common on monitors going for a more reference type tuning exhibited on something like a Mee Audio P1 or PX monitors. Sub bass up to the upper mids is relatively flat but has a peak at 3khz and another mild bump at around 7Khz region. The earphones give a good sense of clarity and presence for both vocals and instruments with little to no perceivable sibilance or grain. Which again shows a lot of refinement for the low asking price of $10.


Treble for the most part stays clean and confident but sounds a touch thin a bit dry but is represented well with the given sound signature. Mids are fairly even handed from lower to upper mids giving excellent vocal clarity and instrument definition. Stage is adequate for the presentation being roughly average in width but lacks some depth to give some fullness to the sounds. The bass on the D4 is balanced nicely and has good tight punch with a good low rumble in the sub bass region that is not too common for budget fi. While bass could have used a slight lift in the 40hz to below it is definitely a good quality bass especially for the price on these.



There is really little to complain about on the sound to be completely honest. I can say I actually prefer the tuning on the D4 over the older NE700m. And those used to go for $70. I actually did a review for the NuForce NE750 and the NE850m. Both earphones hovering around the $80-$120 range. I actually prefer the tuning on the D4.


I know a lot of headfiers recently bought a pair of these for the Aliexpress sales day and I have to tell you. You all are in for a very nice surprise. Go in with low expectations and be completely surprised like I was. These will most definitely amaze for the little cost on them.

You also find this review and much more on my blog audioreviews.org

Executive Summary

The EZAUDIO D4 is a single dynamic driver earphone that excels by its well-dosed bass, clean treble, and its excellent sense of space.


Disclaimer

The EZAUDIO D4 were forced upon me by Jim NiceHCK in exchange of my free labour. Honestly, I had no desire to review them and once again failed to negotiate a financial incentive. And I was even charged 10 cents for them. But in the end I am glad I did the review as I really like them. This earphone is presently being prepared to be given to charity to avoid conflict of interest (I have yet to find a communal service to put it to good use).

As to the rating -- I said before I don't like a star system but this iem is good in absolute terms and very good relative to its cost.


Introduction

In the golden age of budget hybrids, single dynamic driver (DD) earphones getting increasingly sidelined, however unjustifiedly. But whereas many hybrids still have teething issues, DDs rely on a well-established technology and tend to produce balanced and pleasing sound signatures. And they are cheap to produce. Past DD budget favourites included the Einsear T2, DZAT DF-10, Tennmak Dulcimer, and a handful of KZ models – all characterized by their V-shapes. Well, that was two years ago and only veteran Head-Fiers will remember them. On the other hand, many mainstream companies hold on to the DD technology such as Focal and KEF, and you can drop $1000 on the Sennheiser IE800S.

EZAUDIO is a brand I have never heard of [http://www.ezaudio.cn]. I was told the usual – that the D4 “punch above their price point”. The questions are, do they really, and if so, what is the point of a good deal alone that receives admiration and catches dust thereafter. Are these cheapos good enough to actually get some use by their owner who has way more expensive models in the drawer? Let’s find out.


Specifications

• Brand: EZAUDIO
• Model: D4
• Drive Unit: 10 mm titanizing diaphragm dynamic driver unit
• Type: In-ear
• Impedance: 32Ω
• Earphone sensitivity: 99dB
• Frequency range: 20 – 20000Hz
• Earphone plug: 3.5 mm
• Cable Length: 1.2 m
• Available Colors: Purple, gray
• Earphone plug type: L Type
• Remote: One button with microphone
• Price: $10.90 (at the time of the review)
• Purchase Link: NiceHCK Audiostore

Packaging and Accessories

The EZAUDIO D4 comes in a plain white box around a quality case, one that costs you $2–3 if ordered extra. Inside the case are the earphones, three pairs of wide-bore tips (S/M/L), and a carabiner clip. Good enough.


Physical Appearance, Haptic, and Build Quality

The piston/cylinder/barrel-shaped earpieces are made of metal and are of average quality. The nozzle has a lip to firmly secure the rubber tip. The cable attachment is reinforced by a plastic ring around the housing holding a rather flimsy strain relief. The cables attached to the earpieces appear rather thin and are plastic coated down to the splitter, and from thereon textile coated down to the 90-degree connector. There is single one-button remote on the right-hand side – and a chin slider. But does anybody care?


Ergonomics, Comfort, Isolation, and Fit

They fit, seal, and isolate like any other earphone with piston/cylinder/barrel-shaped earpieces.


Source and Eartips

I used the iPhone 5S with the largest included wide-bore tips. As always, I tested the D4 with a cross section of music that provided a broad coverage of the frequency spectrum, including naturally generated sounds such a voices and classical instruments. My playlist is still improving.


Tonality

The EZAUDIO D4 are characterized by a slightly warm and bright, organic sound with no obvious frequency peaks and therefore no pierce or sibilance.

Sonic Strengths

The D4’s biggest assets are its high-quality bass and its overall sound image. The bass is well controlled and well dosed, with a pleasant slam that is not overdone and just right for my ears. Sub-bass extension is good but never overwhelming. There is no bass boom at all, which one would expect in this price class.

Mids are very natural sounding, the lower mids are a tinge laid back, but they are not buried by the bass. The upper mids are more forward, which adds brightness to the sound.

Treble is clean, well extended, and very smooth, again just right and pleasant for my ears.

Separation is excellent and there is very good sense of space.

Fluidity, homogeneity, resolution, layering, soundstage etc. are all good enough to justify a much higher price tag. You’d waste your time reading my nitpicking of these. Transparency and clarity are outstanding. The overall timbre is rather natural.

Sonic Weaknesses

If there is any weakness, it lies in the lower midrange. While the D4 does not display the typical V-shape adherent to most budget DD earphones, voices could be a bit more intimate in some songs; however the listener gets somewhat compensated by the natural timbre.


Select Comparisons

NiceHCK EP35 (~$33): is built fancier but has a problematic fit for some, detachable MMCX cable, and a less extended, weaker bass at a similar instrument separation. I find the D4 fuller and more balanced and more "fun" sounding but self acclaimed "audiophiles" may prefer the EP35's signature. The point is that this is a matter of taste but not of price difference (which lies in the build).

Hifi Walker A1 (~$50): is boomy and V-shaped and needs (easy) modding. When modded, it is the slightly better, that is the more refined sounding earphone but ootb, audiophiles may prefer the D4.


Concluding Remarks

So, is the EZAUDIO D4 a "$10 miracle"? Yes. How much should it cost? Don’t know that is in the eye of the beerholder - but why pay more for a good sound? Which Head-Fier needs them? Nobody, really, since we all have pricier hyrids! Who should not buy them? Somebody who does not like the barrel shape or the colours silver and purple. And who should buy them? Everybody else! Confused? Good!

As a matter of fact, these earphones are both very good and very interesting for somebody like me who owns >>100 pairs of earphones and headphones. The combination of good/cheap/interesting makes them attractive to many and therefore the perfect stocking stuffers for Christmas. There is zero risk in spending 10 or so bucks on them, as you won’t be disappointed sonically or ergonomically. And your D4 will certainly get a lot of use.

The D4 is an example of the frequent lack of rhyme or reason when it comes to pricing.

You can stuff yourself and some stockings only at the NiceHCK Audiostore. Go crazy, folks!

INTRODUCTION/DISCLAIMER:

The EZAudio D4 is an IEM with a single 10mm dynamic driver that retails for $10.90 at the time of this review and will be on sale on 11/11/2018 for $7.99. The D4 is sold by the NiceHCK Audio Store on AliExpress. I purchased the D4 at a promotional price of $0.10 in exchange for this review. My thoughts about the D4 are my own and I will strive to review the D4 objectively.

SOURCE

I have used the EZAudio D4 with the following sources:

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Global > EZAudio D4

Windows 10 PC > JDS Labs The Element > EZAudio D4

Windows 10 PC > Hidizs AP60II > EZAudio D4

I have tested these headphones with Spotify Premium high-quality streaming, Google Play Music streaming at 320kbps, and local FLAC.

PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES

The EZAudio D4 comes in a simple rectangular white paper box with the manufacturer’s logo in blue on the front. The text on the box is mostly in Chinese, but lists the model, frequency range, interconnect type, driver size, and impedance in Roman characters. Inside this box is a EZAudio-branded semi-rigid zippered carry case containing the IEMs, a carabiner, and the eartip selection. For an $11 IEM the case is very high quality and seems identical to the case from the NICEHCK EP35 apart from the branding. The EZAudio D4 comes with one set of eartips (black silicone [Small, Medium, Large].

BUILD QUALITY / DESIGN

The D4’s housing design is a clone of the NuForce NE-700M, with barrel-shaped metal housings and short circular nozzles. The nozzles are covered by metal mesh and have a sizable lip to prevent eartips from coming off. The metal housings have a plastic ring around their circumference from which the cable exits on each earpiece. The cable is smooth and rubbery down to the Y-split, then fabric-covered down to the L-shaped 3.5mm jack. The right earpiece wire has a mic. The cable has a choker that comes up from the Y-split up to the bottom of the mic on the right earpiece cable. The metal housings polished metal with plastic on the ear-facing surface. The D4 has a single vent for the dynamic driver on the exterior faceplate. I have experienced driver flex with the D4 while inserting the IEMs deeply into my ears, which is hard to do without covering this vent.

FIT / COMFORT / ISOLATION

When worn cable-down the D4 has very shallow insertion depth because the housings are so short that the wires catch against the antitragus of the ear. The included eartips are essentially useless when the D4 is worn cable-down because the fit is so shallow. I found wearing the D4 cable-up allowed for increased insertion depth and much better seal, even with the stock eartips. However, I highly recommend third-party dual- or triple-flange eartips with the D4.

Isolation is above average when worn cable-up but below average when worn cable-down.

The diameter of the barrel housings is short enough that the D4 is very comfortable worn either cable-up or cable-down.

SOUND

The EZAudio D4s have an overall bright sound signature with a lifted upper midrange.

With a good seal the D4 has a restrained but authoritative bass response with excellent sub-bass extension. Bass is surprisingly textured for this price point. There is a good amount of mid-bass slam with fast decay.
Edit: Measurements by myself and others show a sizable channel imbalance in the bass region which is likely due to poor QC with regards to ensuring consistent bass vent size and shape. This is correctable.

Lower mids are slightly recessed compared to the bass but male vocals are adequately clear despite some bass bleed. There is a gradual rise from 1k to just past 5k which gives the D4 a lot of presence. The upper midrange can be a bit harsh and overbearing with female vocals, and there is some sibilance.

Treble is recessed compared to the upper midrange but does not begin to roll off dramatically until past 15k. Lower treble is a little grainy. There is a good amount of energy in the 10-12k region which adds sparkle.

Soundstage width and depth are average. Instrument separation is well above average for this price point.

MEASUREMENTS

My measurements were conducted with a Dayton iMM-6 microphone using a vinyl tubing coupler. The mic cal file is designed to be used with a 9k resonance peak, however, for the sake of consistency I have conducted all my measurements at the same insertion depth using foam eartips, so there may be a dip at 9k that is not actually there.

COMPARISONS

UiiSii CM5 (green) vs EZAudio D4 (red)

The UiiSii CM5 is a $16 IEM with a single graphene-sprayed dynamic driver. The CM5 is significantly more V-shaped than the D4, with much more bass quantity and a more elevated lower treble. The CM5 has better bass texture and more mid-bass slam. The D4 sounds airier. The CM5 is less harsh sounding than the D4 at higher volumes and is less sibilant. The D4 has better instrument separation. The CM5 has a slightly larger soundstage.

Mixcder X5 (purple) vs EZAudio D4 (red)

The Mixcder X5 is a $12 IEM with a single dynamic driver. The X5 is a significantly warmer IEM with less upper midrange presence. The D4 has better bass articulation. The bass on the X5 sounds muddy in comparison. The D4 sounds airier. The X5 is more relaxed sounding overall. The X5 is less harsh sounding than the D4 at higher volumes and is less sibilant. The D4 has better instrument separation. The X5 has a slightly larger soundstage.

Fiio F1 (blue) vs EZAudio D4 (green)

The Fiio F1 is a $10 IEM with a single dynamic driver. The F1 has more bass quantity but sounds muddy in comparison to the D4, with worse articulation and texture. The F1’s lower midrange is even more recessed than the D4s. The F1 has a weird peak at about 1.8k that makes the midrange sound shouty. The F1 has a much more rolled off treble and sounds less detailed. The D4 sounds airier. The F1 is less sibilant. The D4 has better instrument separation. They have similar soundstage sizes.

Mee Audio Pinnacle P1 (blue) vs EZAudio D4 (green)

Not a fair comparison given the price differential but given how similar their frequency responses are I feel justified in describing the D4 as a poor man’s P1. The P1 is more resolving overall, with a more detailed treble region and a slightly more restrained upper midrange. The P1 has a larger soundstage and better instrument separation.

AMPLIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND SOURCE PAIRING

At an impedance of 32 ohms and a sensitivity of 99dB, the D4 can be adequately driven by a smartphone. I do not feel that they benefit noticeably from having more power on tap. I did not notice any hiss with the D4.

CLOSING WORDS

The EZAudio D4 is astonishing for the price. Highly recommended. You can purchase the D4 here.

Disclaimer: NiceHCK provided the EzAudio D4 to me as a review sample. I paid a very minimal price for the D4. The good news is with 11.11 coming up you can pay nearly that same price as NiceHCK has reduced the price of the D4 to $7.99 for Singles day. If you like what you read here on the D4, you should consider grabbing a pair while they are available at such a great price.



Unboxing / Packaging:

The D4 comes packed in a white box with the logo on the front in blue and the details about the specs on the reverse. Inside the cardboard box is a semi-hard case. This is rubberized and has some give but is stiff enough to protect the contents. A carabiner for attaching the case to a beltloop is also provided in the box. The headphones and silicone tips (3 sizes) are hiding inside the case and complete the bundle. At a price point substantially below $20 I don’t expect a particularly high end packaging so the hard case and carabiner was a particularly nice touch. My immediate thought was to compare it to the Mixcder X5 as another budget headphone who’s kit outperformed its price point. The X5 excelled in sonics as well so it set the bar for the D4.



Build:

The D4 is a barrel style earpiece made out of solid metal. The nozzle is short with a pronounced lip to hold tips in place. R and L are marked on the side of the barrel in front of the black plastic band that provides the cable strain relief. The faceplate has a single vent near the top center with a stylized E logo directly beneath it. Overall the fit and finish on the earpieces is very good. The joint between parts of the shell is well hidden by the band and no gaps or glue was visible. The earpieces are fairly small and with their straight into the ear design even those with small ears shouldn’t have trouble getting a proper fit. Weight is minimal so no pull of the earpieces by gravity was noticed as sometimes happens on heavier models.



Internals:

The D4 relies on a single 10mm dynamic driver which is referred to as titanizing. I can only assume this is a reference to titanium coating of the diaphragm but cannot find additional ad copy to support that. The driver has a rated impedance of 32Ω with a sensitivity of 99 dB/mW although again the ad copy fails to mention the specifics of how those ratings were obtained or at what frequency. I will say from driving the D4 that it does require a bit more energy to reach volume levels I typically listen at when compared to some other 32Ω in-ears of similar sensitivities. My guess is either sensitivity is not quite as high as listed or the D4 comes closer to 50Ω than 32Ω. I found power required to run the D4 was similar to the Campfire Comet.



Cable:

The cable starts with a 90° TRRS 3.5mm jack with good strain relief. The cable is then cloth coated up to the splitter and soft rubber coated above the splitter. The splitter appears to be injection molded plastic and does not have any strain relief above or below it. A chin slider made of the same plastic sits immediately on top of the splitter and has plenty of travel for adjustment before being blocked by the 1 button mic on the right side of the cable. The cable enters the barrel of the earpiece at a 90° angle and is encased in a plastic band that encircles the earbud. This allows for tip down or tip up wear as the exit point of the cable is near the outer edge of the earpiece. When worn tip up, the microphone is about equally above the mouth as it is below in tip down wear so picks up about equally well. Cables are not removable but for the price point this isn’t expected.





Microphone/Remote:

The microphone differs from many on budget in-ears. It is a plastic capsule in line on the right cable but is not the typical 3 button arrangement. In fact, at first it appears to be just a microphone and not a remote at all. the entire front shell works as a single button which requires that the remote be held between the thumb and forefinger to operate. So the remote will work for play/pause or call answer but does not offer the forward/back or +/- volume options of the more common 3 button design. Functionally, the mic works well for calls but suffers from some outside noise due to rubbing on the side of your face or clothing while talking. The mic also seemed to be susceptible to wind noise if worn outdoors.



Sound:

All of my listening notes are done with the largest provided tips installed.





Bass:

Sub-bass extension is really quite good with roll-off not becoming pronounced until below 35hz. Mid-bass is very much the star of the show and is forward of all of the rest of the signature but not by more than a couple dB at most which gives the D4 a nice warm feel without feeling muddy or sloppy at the same time. I was pleasantly surprised at the level of control exercised in the low-end with quick decay and good tonality. Overall, this is not the bass one expects from this price point.

Mids:

Mids on the D4 are the hardest to describe and come across as mildly recessed on the whole. When divided into their component parts, what we see is lower mids start at the level of the mid-bass and decline as you move into the true mids. There is perceptible bass-bleed which adds some warmth but not nearly as much as seen in other products at this price point and again is not sufficient to distract significantly from the mids. The true mids are the lowest point in the slope and are 4-5dB behind the mid-bass hump. Upper mids climb back up toward the level of the bass but never quite reach it and blend well into the lower treble which continues the climb back toward the bass level.

Treble:

The lower treble climbs from the upper mids and levels off at the 4-5kHz range about 2-3dB behind the mid bass hump. The true treble range falls off fairly sharply above 5kHz and a second smaller plateau exists at the 10-12kHz range albeit down 4dB from the main plateau of the lower treble. The combination of forward lower treble, with rolled off treble and some energy brought back into the mix at the 10-12kHz gives a nice open clear tone to the D4 without getting strident or harsh.

Soundstage / Imaging:

Soundstage is well proportioned as depth didn’t seem to be a lot less than width as is so common on lower end products. Neither dimension seems particularly expansive, but neither feels closed-in or claustrophobic either. Layering is better than expected and the clarity achieved is surprising for a single driver at this price. Imaging is good, but nothing out of the ordinary so while not likely to distract, it isn’t likely to be the biggest selling point either.





Thoughts / Conclusion:

I keep coming back to “this thing costs what?” I even passed these around my office without telling any of the people what they were or the price point and asked them to listen to whatever they wanted to and then let me know what price bracket the D4 fit in. Without fail, everyone who tried them said at least $50 and maybe a good bit more. Good, I haven’t lost my marbles as at least 10 other people felt the same way I do. These sound way better than they should for their asking price and to top it off, they are on sale for Singles Day at $8. The D4 is a great example of what Chi-fi is doing these days to upset the audio applecart. Were this same headphone badged with a big name brand, they would easily sell for 5 to 10 times the asking price.